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The districts have absolutely nothing to do with the Presidential election.
Furthermore, the 2008 districts were drawn under court order. They were not the districts the Democrats came up with in 2002.
My point of bringing up the Presidential results by district is it sheds a but of light on how gerrymandered the state is or isn't, especially in the case of a state that is close.
My point of bringing up the Presidential results by district is it sheds a but of light on how gerrymandered the state is or isn't, especially in the case of a state that is close.
Nope. NC often votes differently for President than other offices. Case in point. NC decisively chose Trump for President, but looks to have voted for a Democrat to replace an incumbent GOP governor.
For many years the state simultaneously voted for Jim Hunt (D) as governor and Jessie Helms (R) as US Senator.
Nope. NC often votes differently for President than other offices. Case in point. NC decisively chose Trump for President, but looks to have voted for a Democrat to replace an incumbent GOP governor.
For many years the state simultaneously voted for Jim Hunt (D) as governor and Jessie Helms (R) as US Senator.
Has nothing to do with my point. Obama won the state (albeit very narrowly) in 2008 yet under the current lines lost 10 of the 13 districts. It takes serious gerrymandering for a result like that to happen.
As far as the difference between the race for Gov and President in the state, keep in mind the difference in the margins of those races were within about 5 points of each other, so its not like there was a major difference. 2012 actually saw a larger difference between the Presidential and Gov margin.
Has nothing to do with my point. Obama won the state (albeit very narrowly) in 2008 yet under the current lines lost 10 of the 13 districts. It takes serious gerrymandering for a result like that to happen.
As far as the difference between the race for Gov and President in the state, keep in mind the difference in the margins of those races were within about 5 points of each other, so its not like there was a major difference. 2012 actually saw a larger difference between the Presidential and Gov margin.
It has everything to do with it. You seek to extrapolate the competitiveness of the US House of Representatives NC district, based on how voters in that district decided to vote for president. Where you fail is this assumes that everyone votes straight tickets.
First of all people don't all vote straight tickets. And second of all, the choice for US President was never included when the balloting machines still had a straight party ticket button. One still had to choose the President separately.
Now if what you really want to say, does a district give an advantage to Blacks, then that is another discussion entirely.
It has everything to do with it. You seek to extrapolate the competitiveness of the US House of Representatives NC district, based on how voters in that district decided to vote for president. Where you fail is this assumes that everyone votes straight tickets.
First of all people don't all vote straight tickets. And second of all, the choice for US President was never included when the balloting machines still had a straight party ticket button. One still had to choose the President separately.
Now if what you really want to say, does a district give an advantage to Blacks, then that is another discussion entirely.
People can and do vote different for various offices. However, how a district votes at the top of the ticket is a major indicator to the advantage down ballot. This is even more the case when the districts are not competitive at the top of the ticket.
.... However, how a district votes at the top of the ticket is a major indicator to the advantage down ballot. ....
Nope not in NC.
Democrats held control of the NC General Assembly for close to 100 years only losing it in 2012. Yet in the last 40 years they only voted for one Democrat President. This speaks for itself.
So you think its fair a GOP general assembly can gerrymander districts in such a way that makes it nearly impossible for Democrats to get elected? Im not saying Democrats are not guilty of doing the same thing. I've been saying for years an independent nonpartisan board should draw those lines, including congressional lines. State lawmakers and the U. S. Congress should not be allowed to pick it's voters. If our government leaders weren't so comfortable holding their seats maybe they would actually get something done. Gerrymandering is so undemocratic and im surprised its been legal for so long
So a western district that has 7-people per square mile in some valley, has the same political weight as Winston-Salem?
Seems like sour grapes.
Look at California---one huge Democrat gerrymander!
The filthy Democrats here in Maryland have gerrymandered the State so badly that it went from a split 4-4 Congressional delegation to a 7-1 split in favor of Democrats.
Democrats whine about "disenfranchising" people, but they love to do it to those who disagree with them.
I was living in Md when Tom McMillen (D) was re-districted out and Anne Arundel county (which was growing in repub voters) was split 4 ways making sure the county had no chance of getting a repub voted in.
And Steny Hoyer's district was redistricted so he had more of St. Mary's county and less of PG becuae more of PG was growing in black population and they wee afraid the the new black voters would not vote for him.
Having had to live through all the dem gerrymandering shenanigans, I do not want hear the dems whining about repub gerrymandering
Elections have consequences. Said by Obama himself.
And the party that controls the NC General Assembly has every right to draw the district lines as they see fit. The Democrats did it when they ran things and now that they are a completely defeated & neutered party, the GOP does it now. It's their right to do so.
If the Democrats don't like it, then it's on them to adopt a platform where they reflect the interests of a majority of NC voters interests instead of appealing to the fringes.
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