A common assumption in Maryland redistricting maps is that MD-01 is to be based in the Eastern Shore. This map rejects that assumption and takes a different tack. None of MD-01 at all is in the Eastern Shore. Instead, MD-01 is redrawn as an entirely new district in Central Maryland.
Official proposals have split the Eastern Shore, so its clear that keeping the Eastern Shore in one piece is not as sacrosanct as once assumed. And if the Eastern Shore can be split, why does one of the districts that it is split between have to be MD-01? Why not split it between two (or more) Democratic incumbents instead?
This map splits the Eastern Shore between MD-02 (Dutch Ruppersberger) and MD-04 (Donna Edwards), but the Eastern Shore could conceivably be split among different Democratic incumbents as well. As a result of shifting these districts to the east, space is opened up for a new Central Maryland MD-01. Both MD-04 and MD-07 have 50% +1 African American majorities.
This map creates 8 strong Democratic districts and gives neither Andy Harris nor Roscoe Bartlett a district that they can really run in. MD-02 and MD-03 are only 58% and 59% Obama, but that is because of Obama's fairly poor performance among whites in the Baltimore suburbs. Those districts are more Democratic on the local level, as reflected in the Democratic Averages.
Yes, Democratic incumbents get some new territory, but all keep substantial portions of their old districts. No incumbent is at any substantial risk in a general election, and primary challenges are primarily figments of said incumbents' over-active imaginations.
Why would Democrats not pass a map like this? Why would you want 1 or 2 House Republicans from Maryland when you can quite easily have 0? Why would any Democrat who does not want John Boehner to remain Speaker of the House not support a map like this?
District |
Black % |
Obama % |
Dem Avg % |
MD-01 |
21.1% |
60.2% |
59.8% |
MD-02 |
22.3% |
58.0% |
61.6% |
MD-03 |
27.9% |
59.2% |
63.4% |
MD-04 |
50.0% |
69.0% |
68.9% |
MD-05 |
33.4% |
61.5% |
62.9% |
MD-06 |
12.9% |
60.0% |
60.7% |
MD-07 |
50.1% |
63.6% |
62.3% |
MD-08 |
14.3% |
63.2% |
63.4% |