‘I-93’ congressional district map passes House committee – New Hampshire Bulletin

Home Republicans have taken one other stab at redrawing the state’s congressional districts. The newest try – the so-called “I-93 map” that teams communities alongside the interstate hall – handed the Home Particular Redistricting Committee Wednesday in a party-line vote.

Committee Republicans had been undeterred by Gov. Chris Sununu’s opposition to the map, which might create a extra solidly Republican 1st Congressional District and a solidly Democratic 2nd District. Beneath the proposed map, U.S. Reps. Annie Kuster and Chris Pappas would reside in the identical district.

“The folks of New Hampshire are relying on the Home Particular Committee on Redistricting to ship a map that holds our incumbents accountable and retains our districts aggressive,” Gov. Chris Sununu mentioned in an announcement on the modification after it was launched late Monday. “We’re nonetheless not there.”

The modification, drawn by Rep. Ross Berry, a Manchester Republican, would group Belknap County, Merrimack County, a sliver of Hillsborough County, and most of Rockingham County collectively into the first District.

In the course of the govt session Wednesday, Berry mentioned he used three “tiers” of standards to attract the map: the highest tier was retaining the inhabitants equally divided between the 2 districts and never splitting cities or cities; second was preserving financial communities that don’t cross county traces; and the third was competitiveness. 

“My definition of aggressive is a end result that may precisely replicate the character of the state,” Berry mentioned.

For Berry, which means Republican victories would match the share of Republican voters within the state. He pointed to Democratic victories on the federal stage up to now 10 years and claimed the “I-93” map wouldn’t lock in a Republican victory, however “it provides Republicans an opportunity.”

The map isn’t ranked as extremely aggressive, in accordance FiveThirtyEight, a designation Gov. Sununu’s proposal had obtained. Committee Democrats additionally pushed again on Berry’s declare. 

“We’ve made CD2 even much less aggressive. We’ve made it considerably much less aggressive,” mentioned Rep. Manny Espitia, a Nashua Democrat.

The proposal can also be a major change from the present congressional district map; Rep. Paul Bergeron mentioned the brand new proposal would transfer 460,000 folks in 73 cities from one district to a different. 

Berry argued that incremental change was not one of the best method and that it was time to “hit the reset.”

The invoice will now go earlier than the complete Home for a vote subsequent week. It will then return to the Senate, which must concur with adjustments made within the Home to ensure that the invoice to advance.