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Tuesday, April 27, 2021

Politics: Recall And Redistricting

Gavin Newsom will face a recall election in California. Most polling and pundit analysis indicates that Newsom will not be recalled. However, that may not be the end of the story. The LA Times has some interesting coverage and the title suggests that there's more going on here than the recall election itself:


California GOP could gain from a Newsom recall election — win or lose — if they play their cards right


The Dem position is articulated by Bob Shrum--yes, I agree: FWIW. Shrum wants people to think it's only and all about the election results:


“The recall will become nothing more than psychic satisfaction for Republicans — until they get the results on election night,” he said.


But, not so fast. Republican consultants argue that this election will give them an opportunity to put their message before the public at a time when dissatisfaction is high. Regardless of whether voters--who are normally a cautious lot--decide to take drastic action, the campaign could prove to be a preview for future events:


OK, but before that the GOP will have rare access to a golden mic to shout its message to voters.

“People are going to pay attention,” predicts Republican consultant Dave Gilliard, a major strategist in collecting the 1.5 million voter signatures needed to qualify the recall effort for the ballot.

“This is the biggest [California] political story of the year.”

“Republicans have to start clawing back bit by bit, and it’s not going to happen in one election cycle,” says Republican consultant Rob Stutzman, who was Schwarzenegger’s communications director.

...

Republicans could begin rehabilitating their image among moderate Democrats and independents by articulating solutions to problems that trouble centrist voters most: public education, affordable housing, homelessness, middle-class jobs and high taxes.

“The Republican Party should make the case that under one of its candidates, schools would have opened earlier,” Rexroad says.


This is an issue that I still maintain should be a major winner for Republicans. 


There’s certainly a market for that pitch. A recent UCLA survey found that three-quarters of Los Angeles County parents with public school children believed their kids have been “substantially hurt” by stay-at-home Zoom classes.


“The challenge for Republicans is to come across as the party of governance and not insurrection,” says Jack Pitney, a government professor at Claremont McKenna College.


OK, that's not really where my heart is, but anything that promises to reduce the overall influence of CA Dems is good in my book.

And so, not altogether unrelated ...

Redistricting.

The results are in, and Red states are the winners. Shipwreckedcrew has a nice analysis of what it all could mean, with all the ins and outs. I think we know the big picture already, but there are some twists that make the big picture more likely:


The Re-Apportionment of Congressional Seats Promises Some Surprises in the Future


Here's the baseline:


WINNERS: "Texas gains two congressional seats, while Colorado, Florida, North Carolina, Montana, and Oregon each gain one seat."

LOSERS: "California, New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, and West Virginia all lose one seat each."


While that might look initially like a wash, there are some twists that offer opportunities for the GOP and, at the least, could force the Dems to commit resources to tough races even in states that they dominate--like CA.

Here's the it's-a-wash part. NY and IL will be able to redistrict to prevent the GOP from gaining. At the same time, OH and WV will do the same for the GOP.

However, on the win side of the GOP ledger:


In the states gaining seats that are dominated by the GOP in state government — Texas, Florida, and Montana — this is almost certain to result in four new districts that will likely be won by GOP candidates in 2022.


Four almost certain wins just for getting out of bed in the morning. Ouch--that hurts Dems in a close House, very badly.

Just as bad, Dems may find themselves on the defensive in states they dominate:


Let’s consider Oregon first, which is gaining a seat. ... a large proportion of Democrat voters in Oregon are located in the counties surrounding metropolitan Portland, while the remainder of the more rural areas of the state has long been more GOP friendly.

While Joe Biden won Oregon 56.5 to 40% over Pres. Trump (allegedly), two incumbent House Democrats won re-election with less than 52% — and both of their GOP opponents ran in the mid-40s. Any effort to bolster the number of Democrat voters in those two vulnerable districts to support the incumbents would likely put any newly drawn district in play for the GOP.  Drawing a strong Democrat-leaning new district in the metro-Portland area could cost the Democrats one or both of the more marginal seats as GOP support in both districts is increasing.


Speculative, yes, but not a given for Dems by any means.


California is now a complete one-party state, dominated at every level of politics by some of the most radical elements of the Democrat Party.  But an Amendment to the California Constitution passed by voters in 2008 makes it very difficult for elected state government officials to have significant influence in the drawing of new district boundaries in such a way as to ensure that a GOP congressional district will be the one eliminated.

Pursuant to the Amendment, California now has a “California Citizens Redistricting Commission.” [Follow link for details.]

The Commission members will work with Commission staff to draft new congressional boundaries.  For any map to be approved, a majority of each of the three subgroups on the Commission must vote in favor — 3 out of 5 Democrat members, 3 out of 5 GOP members, and 3 out of 4 expressing no party preference.

There are rumors in California circles that because of demographic changes, it is quite possible that the geographic area losing a congressional district will be metropolitan Los Angeles. 

 

And that would very possibly mean a loss of a Dem seat.

Colorado is in a position that's very similar to the situation in CA, with a Commission that requires a super majority to approve the changes.

And so SWC ends up with a bottom line:


Just about every sign is pointing to a substantial swing in the House in favor of the GOP in 2022, and the Republicans should regain control of the House with a significant majority.


Again, it's nibbling at the margins--I understand that. But a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. We need some victories if we're ever going to get to the big picture stuff. These structural changes could really help, along with a slew of issues that favor the GOP--if they've learned anything over the last years.


15 comments:

  1. I will speculate that the Dems will spend gobs of money on legal challenges over any redistricting plans over allegations of racism. Nothing will be a cakewalk--the Dems will see to that. We really need conservative legal groups on our side to fight these battles. We are always playing defense, but never offense. Are GOP operatives planning on challenging any Dem redistricting plans?

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    1. I actually doubt that. The Black Congressional Caucus has their safe gerrymandered seats in major metro areas. Dems MUST allow that and GOP is content with it, too. Black districts won't be threatened much--GOP instead will be looking to pick up "moderate" Dem seats in suburbs. In this situation, Dems are playing defense and don't have many options that I can see.

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  2. Slightly O/T, but it's big picture politics.

    What is your view of the Arizona audit? My gut feeling is that if the audit goes through, Dems are fighting every step of the way, it will constitute proof that election fraud happened to the degree we all suspect--or not. If the audit finds nothing, then: what?

    Am I putting all my eggs in one basket on this? If this audit comes a cropper, then those of us who are pretty sure the election was stolen, will be taking one on the chin. Or is that an oversimplification?

    Put another way, if there really was fraud in Maricopa County, then this audit will find it. Correct?

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    1. I've been following that but not commenting, figuring that if it's gonna "go through" then it will. If it does, however, as you say: Huge. That's my view, anyway. It would tag Dems as cheaters. Huge portion of the public is open to idea of a stolen WH, and this would seal that. Everyone would know about the audits being prevented in other states, but if the one that happened confirms what's also alleged in the other states--Huge.

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    2. I wonder if the AZ audit could spur similar audits elsewhere--or if it is too late in other jurisdictions due to the amount of time passing and potential for tampering with ballots cast long ago and such.

      I think it would also give a lot of GOP controlled statehouses even more spine and a lot of public backing to pass reforms to prevent future fraud.

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    3. If you believe Patrick Byrne's book, then Arizona has already purged the machines and so they shouldn't reveal much.

      But that leaves open the mail-in ballots and other conventional forms of frauds. According to Navarro's report that should be enough for the margin of victory.

      That said, they've had a lot of time to clean it up. I've seen enough to be convinced that major tampering occurred via the machines. It would duck if they didn't find anything substantial, but I don't think it would change my mind.

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    4. mistcr,

      If major tampering occurred via the machines then the country needs more people like Sidney Powell, Mike Lindell and Alan Dershowitz to take on Dominion instead of so called conservative blogs that throw in their cards and issue groveling apologies. This is a very sore point with me. What is the price of freedom?

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    5. @Cap'n, do you see anyone here issuing apologies, or are you referring to others?

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    6. Another tidbit of confusion and bad reporting I picked up on the audit...

      The original judge that reclused himself did so over a conflict of interest with a newly hired attorney in the case last Fri/sat.

      It was widely reported (TGP, others) that this attorney was "shopped" to cause the issue and remove the judge from the case... I kinda agree on that.

      It was also reported that the defence aka "the Dems" did this to get the judge off of the case for someone more favorable to their cause.

      Turns out... That wasn't correct. The auditors aka Cyber Ninjas who were doing very well with the judge actual hired the attorney that caused the conflict.

      The looming issue from what I can tell from the dockets was the judge was pushing the auditors to make the audit criteria public.

      Another red flag? Maybe... It's another interesting discrepancy both in the reporting of who's doing what and in the lack of transparency overall. Especially in the media! 🙄

      Yes I'm negative Nancy about this audit, as I said previously if my lack of faith turns out to be wrong I'll happily admit it in this case!!! But my government forces me to be eternally skeptical of all things involving politics!

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    7. mistcr,

      I'm referring somewhere else which shall remain nameless for now. I have no reason to badmouth the host here.

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  3. "if they've learned..."

    You raise a high bar, Mark.

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    1. I think we all agree on that bar requiring great height!!!

      ......................

      I'm so burned by the Grand Ole Party that I seriously doubt they will ever get me voting for them again. I can't whine about their actions and slide over into hypocrisy during an election.

      I've always voted by knowledge and research. Going forward I will consider anything with a D or R next to its name part of the process of elimination.

      I'll change when they change, 160 years of party history says that will probably be never.

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  4. “California is a one party state”; you do realize of course who we have to thank for that? Ronald Reagan. Yes, Rinaldus Magnus as Rush used to call him. His totally boneheaded move in signing the 1986 Immigration Bill providing amnesty was the CA Death Knell. The fallout continues today.

    How could a rock-ribbed, otherwise stalwart anti-government conservative FUBAR in such a manner?

    For “Greatest President” guess you have to go back to Calvin Coolidge.

    Boarwild

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  5. Here are the latest California voter registration stats from the Secretayy of State’s office - the Dems don’t have even a simple majority.

    As of the February odd-year stats:

    February 10, 2021
    Democratic
    10,228,144 46.2%

    Republican
    5,347,377 24.1%

    No Party Preference
    5,258,223 23.7%

    Other
    1,320,560 6.0%

    https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/ror/ror-odd-year-2021/historical-reg-stats.pdf

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    1. Which tends to bear out SWC's caution that even in "one party states" this isn't as simple as people want to claim it is.

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