Two Montanas? New maps highlight state's split personality

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

CASCADE, Mont. (AP) — For the first time in 30 years, the Census has awarded Montana a second seat in Congress. On paper, that leaves the state's redistricting commission with the easiest task of all its counterparts across the country: Divide the expansive state in half.

If only.

Nothing is ever that simple in redistricting battles, as political parties jostle for control over maps that will give their candidates an advantage and the simple act of drawing a line becomes a fraught battle over the identity of the state.

In Montana, Republicans are pushing to separate the two booming college towns of Bozeman and Missoula in the western half of the state. Putting the two Democratic-leaning communities in different districts would make it hard for Democrats to win either seat. Democrats want to consolidate their strongholds in one district that would give them a fighting chance to win a House seat. They argue the towns — filled with craft brew drinkers, liberal academics, remote workers and California transplants — share more in common with each other than the vast expanse of rural ranches and farms between them.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/two-montanas-maps-highlight-states-040337834.html

Could make for an interesting map.

[cilla4progress]

1. Oh man..Bozeman..

it's like a blue utopia. Just got back from visiting our daughter there. Too bad it's become overrun...would like to relocate there and get out of my eastern Washington (think north Idaho politics) rightwing hellhole. People are friendly, they seem happy, shared values - though of course, not all is perfect. They seem to be more educated (college town). Blue dot.

I think the solution will be to help daughter buy a modest home there that can be our go-to for visits, and then, as we age and are unable to take care of our little acreage in Washington, eventually join her. (I'm sure she'll love that!).

Right now she has a studio right downtown that she pays $600 / mo. for, including utilities! She'll be there for awhile. She would like to get a dog though, so, there are some logistics to work out! Everyone has a dog there...

[themaguffin]

2. Leave it to the GOP to gerrymander a two district state.

[dsc]

3. To be fair under most reasonable definitions of that term

the GOP isn't doing it in this case.

[Retrograde]

4. They could probably gerrymander a 1 district state!

What with the voter suppression techniques they're trying out in Texas and Florida and general underhandness I'm sure they can find a way if they try!