Cross-posted from RedRacingHorses.com
The absolutely gorgeous state of Washington is set to gain a Congressional district in 2013 based on the Census of 2010.
Up until 2010, Republicans only held three of nine seats, and had a very tenuous hold on the 8th. The retirement of centrist Brian Baird allowed for State Rep Jaime Herrera Beutler to win the 3rd district, leaving Washington's delegation at 5 Ds and 4 Rs.
Because Washington has a bipartisan commission, it is likely that we will end up with a 5-4-1 (D-R-Swing) map. However, as a celebratory start to Christmas Break, I wanted to see how far I could stretch the limits and I set out to draw a 7-3 map.
Could I do it?
Find out below the fold.
Washington
A few other pics
Here's a pic I took of Snoqualmie Falls that was featured on Dave Reichert's website for a long time :).
WA-01
Incumbent: Norm Dicks (D-Bremerton), but he would not run here. Maybe DKE favorite Marko Liias could run here.
Stats: Old district: 43.8% Rossi/D+9. New district: 37.4% Rossi/D+15.
Rating: Safe D
WA-02
Incumbent: Rick Larsen (D-Everett)
Stats: Old district: 49.5% Rossi/D+3. New district: 53.7% Rossi/R+1
Rating: Toss up, simply because it's hard to knock off a "moderate" incumbent.
WA-03
Incumbent: Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-Camas)
Stats: Old seat: 52.6% Rossi/EVEN. New seat: 54.8% Rossi/R+2.
Rating: Likely R
WA-04
Incumbent: Doc Hastings (R-Pasco)
Stats: Old seat: 66.4% Rossi/R+13. New seat: 56.3% Rossi/R+3
Rating: Safe R.
WA-05
Incumbent: Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Spokane)
Stats: Old seat: 58.6% Rossi/R+7. New seat: 58.3% Rossi/R+7
Rating: Safe R
WA-06
Incumbent: Open. Norm Dicks (D-Bremerton) would run here.
Stats: Old seat: 47% Rossi/D+5. New seat: 53.7% Rossi/R+2 or R+3. While this seat and WA-02 are the exact same Rossi %, Rossi underperformed here and over-performed in WA-02.
Rating: Leans R, because Dicks is quite liberal and a 6 point shift in PVI for a very liberal Congressman may be hard to handle.
WA-07
Incumbent: Jim McDermott (D-Seattle)
Stats/Rating not necessary.
WA-08
Incumbent: Sheriff Dave Reichert (R-Auburn)
Stats: Old seat: 50.8% Rossi/D+3. New seat: 52.5% Rossi/D+1.
Rating: Likely R with Reichert, Tilts R when open because of its history as a socially liberal but fiscally conservative suburban seat, like PA-06 and IL-10.
WA-09
Incumbent: Adam Smith (D-Tacoma)
Stats: Old seat: 47.2% Rossi/D+5. New seat: 38% Rossi/D+14.
Rating: Safe D.
WA-10
Incumbent: Open (new seat). I would highly encourage State Senator Michael Baumgartner to move and run here.
Stats: 55.8% Rossi/R+3.
Rating: Likely R
There we have it, a 6-3-1 map of Washington State that should turn into a 7-3 if the Republicans beat Norm Dicks and Rick Larsen.