In Many States, 2020 Election Winners Hold All The Redistricting Power

Consider This from NPR

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🗓️ 4 December 2020

⏱️ 15 minutes

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Summary

Every 10 years after the U.S. Census, lawmakers in most states have the power to redraw congressional and state legislative districts. It's called redistricting. The party in power can do it in a way that benefits them politically — and it's perfectly legal. That's called gerrymandering.

Now that the 2020 election season is nearly over, a picture is emerging of how redistricting and gerrymandering will unfold in states across the country.

NPR's Ari Shapiro spoke to reporters in three state capitals: Ashley Lopez with member station KUT in Austin, Texas; Dirk VanderHart from Oregon Public Broadcasting in Portland; and Steve Harrison of member station WFAE in Charlotte, N.C.

In participating regions, you'll also hear a local news segment that will help you make sense of what's going on in your community.

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0:00.0	Okay, be honest. Off the top of your head. Can you name the person who is your local
0:05.6	state representative? They don't often make national news, but as a group, they can determine
0:11.4	who controls the political power in this country.
0:14.4	I'm Debbie Booth-Schmitt. I'm running for state representative to fight for our North
0:19.4	Coast economy.
0:20.9	Okay, Oregon's 30-second state house district hugs the Pacific Ocean and the Columbia River
0:26.7	along the border with Washington State. And this election season, Democrat Debbie Booth-Schmitt
0:32.0	and her Republican opponent, Suzanne Weber.
0:34.6	Suzanne Weber. Real life experience makes her a great public servant.
0:39.2	These two spent a lot of money making sure voters knew their names.
0:44.2	I'm Debbie Booth-Schmitt. I run a small business.
0:47.3	We need someone like Suzanne who has the right experience to lead.
0:51.4	This race was likely the most expensive state house race in Oregon history. The two candidates
0:57.8	spent a combined $2.5 million. And let's put this in perspective. For most state lawmakers,
1:06.1	this is not even a full-time job. In Oregon, their annual salary is $31,000. In New Hampshire,
1:13.2	it's just $100. In many states, they only work one or two months out of the year.
1:18.8	Well, the people of rural Northwest Oregon have spoken.
1:22.7	$2.5 million in a race that Republicans Suzanne Weber won with around 22,000 votes. She gave
1:31.3	her victory speech in a video on Facebook, sitting alone at her kitchen table.
1:35.6	In the next few days, please watch my Facebook page for announcements on where to return
1:42.5	your lawn signs. My team will be out around the district picking them up over the next
1:48.4	days.
	...

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