South Carolina will receive an additional seat in the U.S. Congress if current population estimates hold, giving it seven Congressional districts for the first time since the Great Depression.
Whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing remains to be seen, obviously … although based on the record of the two democrats and four (cough) “Republicans” currently serving in Washington, D.C., we’re gonna have to go with “bad.”
Making matters worse, it will be up to S.C. lawmakers to gerrymander … err, draw the new district, although their plan would be subject to approval by the U.S. Justice Department.
South Carolina had a seventh Congressional district from 1803-1853, incidentally, and then again from 1883-1933. Prior to 1843, the state actually had nine Congressional districts.
Oh … and in case anybody cares, the term “Gerrymander” was first coined by the Boston Gazette in March of 1812 in response to Massachusetts Gov. Elbridge Gerry’s redrawing of the Bay State’s districts to benefit his Democratic-Republican party.
In fact, here’s the original “Gerrymander …”
By Ynot December 23, 2009 at 5:46 pm
Then that radio guy Kevin Cohen can really run right?
By James the Foot Soldier December 23, 2009 at 11:30 pm
Hopefully the republicans in the legislature won’t screw up the re-districting process like they did in 1990.
How democrats were able to secure TWO congressional seats in this state is the fruit cake that keeps getting re-gifted.
Give the democrasts ONE seat, i.e., put Spratt an Clyburn in the same district. It’s not THAT tought of a freakin’ concept.
By Mike Reino December 24, 2009 at 12:15 pm
It seems that the only ones saying that SC will get a 7th District are from inside the state..
By You Are An Idiot December 24, 2009 at 4:13 pm
You can’t actually put Clyburn and Spratt in the same district. There’s this thing called one man, one vote. A 1.3 million person district probably won’t pass constitutional muster.