Mitch Perry
Initial reviews of the base redistricting map drawn up and released by a special committee within the Florida Legislature this week indicates that Democrats will probably improve their representation in Congress next year.
But that doesn’t mean that there isn’t some pain being felt by some Democratic incumbents.
The biggest potential loser is rising star Gwen Graham. Her District 2 seat looks seriously compromised, with many of her voters now squeezed into Corrine Brown‘s District 5 seat.
Another dilemma is that Palm Beach County Reps. Ted Deutch and Lois Frankel have now been squeezed into Deutch’s CD 21 seat.
What to do?
Nothing immediately, obviously, because the proposed base map isn’t the final deal. To alleviate concerns among their supporters and donors, the two have issued a joint statement saying that while both intend to run for Congress next year, it won’ t be against each other in a contested primary election.
“We both believe in the concept of Fair Districts and that congressional districts should be drawn to serve the people, not for the pleasure of elected officials,” the two Democrats say in the prepared statement. “We have both proudly worked as a team and with other members of our delegation, serving the residents of Palm Beach and Broward counties over many years. We both fully intend to run for re-election and we look forward to serving in Congress together as long as our constituents give us this honor. We are friends, have great respect for one another and both of us are fully committed to not running against each other. ”
As reported by Anthony Mann in the South-Florida Sun-Sentinel, the newly drawn CD 21 seat is territory that Deutch mostly controls because he retains nearly 60 percent of the district’s population.
The Legislature returns to Tallahassee on Monday for a two-week Special Session to address the redistricting issue. Although charged by the Florida Supreme Court to specifically redraw eight Congressional Districts found to be in violation of the 2010 Fair Districts constitutional amendments, the base map shows that all 27 congressional district lines will ultimately be changed to some extent.
