• About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
Monday, September 25, 2023
The Iowa Torch
  • Home
  • State Government
  • Federal Government
  • Local Government
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • State Government
  • Federal Government
  • Local Government
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Opinion
The Iowa Torch
The Iowa Torch
No Result
View All Result
Home Opinion

Editorial: Democrat Accusations of Gerrymandering Are Premature and Partisan

With the Iowa Senate's vote, the Iowa Legislature has now rejected the first redistricting map after three of the last five decennial censuses.

Iowa TorchbyIowa Torch
October 6, 2021
in Opinion
Reading Time: 3 mins read

Photo by Shane Vander Hart

ADVERTISEMENT

The Iowa Constitution and state law give the Iowa Legislature the authority to reject redistricting maps drawn by the Legislative Services Agency twice and then amend the third map if necessary. If the Legislature can’t agree on a map in three tries, then the Iowa Supreme Court decides. The nonpartisan process that Iowans, including us, champion allows this.

RELATED POSTS

Miller-Meeks: Putting the brakes on Biden, protecting Americans’ vehicle choice

Hinson: Make Washington Work Again

Feenstra: Combating President Biden’s electric vehicle mandates

The Iowa Senate rejected the first map by a party-line vote according to the process outlined in law.  

Only twice after the last five decennial censuses did the Iowa Legislature approve the first map offered – 1991 (74th General Assembly when Democrats controlled both chambers) and 2011 (84th General Assembly with split chambers). 

Only once, in 1981 (during the 69th General Assembly), did the Legislature not approve the map until the third attempt. Then, Republicans were in control, but the sky didn’t fall for Democrats considering they won control of both chambers in 1982 and controlled both chambers until 1992 when Republicans won back control of the House. 

In 2001, Republicans rejected the first map but accepted the second map. That wasn’t a disaster either since there was a split General Assembly after the 2004 elections, and Democrats regained control of both chambers in 2006.

Whether or not Democrats agree, there are some legitimate concerns with the first map, and some Senate districts are rather large, some are abnormally drawn. We expected LSA just to tweak the Congressional district map. Instead, they made the 4th Congressional District larger and the 1st Congressional District much smaller. It’s a radical change that, in our opinion, was unnecessary. 

On Tuesday, Iowa Senate Minority Leader Zach Wahls, D-Coralville, said, “It met all the requirements laid out in state law. This is an outrageous use of political power to rig elections in their favor. We are in completely uncharted territory, due to unprecedented delays.” 

ADVERTISEMENT

Did it meet all the criteria? That is debatable looking at the maps. Nonpartisan does not mean perfect, and LSA can improve on the map. Also, while LSA can’t consider the physical addresses of incumbents, having 22 of the Senate’s 50 incumbent senators and 40 out of the House’s 100 representatives thrown into districts together seems extreme, especially when you consider there are two senate districts and three house districts that have three incumbents each. 

There will always be some fratricide with redistricting, but we suspect there will be less in the second map, although, admittedly, that is not guaranteed.

“This is a clear signal Republicans are willing to use a partisan gerrymander to keep themselves in power. Now is the time for Iowans to make their voices heard, contact their legislators, and demand that Republicans stop going down this dangerous road,” Wahls added.

The “dangerous road” that the Legislature went down in 1981 and 2001? If Republicans were “gerrymandering,” then they did a poor job of it.

Republicans rejecting the first map is not an attempt at gerrymandering, not even close. We don’t know how the second map will look. The LSA is required to implement the feedback provided by the Legislature. The Iowa Senate passed SJR 9, which requested a second plan that “balances compactness with the legally mandated population deviation.”

If LSA accomplishes this, it’s likely, albeit not certain, the Legislature will approve the map. Will Democrats consider that gerrymandering as well?

Tags: 2021 Iowa Legislative Special SessionIowa House of RepresentativesIowa SenateLegislative Services AgencyRedistrictingZach Wahls
ShareTweetShare
ADVERTISEMENT
Previous Post

Iowa Senate Rejects First Redistricting Map

Next Post

Miller-Meeks Introduces Legislation to Preserve Unused Visas

Iowa Torch

Iowa Torch

The Iowa Torch​ is a for-profit, news organization that focuses on political news as it relates to Iowans.

Related Posts

Gustafson will not seek re-election to Iowa House
State Government

Gustafson will not seek re-election to Iowa House

September 6, 2023
State Government

Iowa Senate Democrats select Pam Jochum as leader, replace Zach Wahls

June 8, 2023
State Government

The Iowa House and Senate pass different property tax relief bills

April 20, 2023
Vander Hart: Two Reasons Iowans May Still Want a Carry Permit
State Government

Iowa House passes bill allowing firearms in vehicles at schools and public buildings

April 13, 2023
white tiled wall with men s restroom sign
State Government

School restroom bill heads to Reynolds’ desk

March 20, 2023
State Government

Iowa House sends government reorganization bill to Reynolds’ desk

March 16, 2023
Next Post

Miller-Meeks Introduces Legislation to Preserve Unused Visas

Reynolds Announces Funds Available to Support Rural Communities

Reynolds Announces Funds Available to Support Rural Communities

Sign-Up For Our Daily Updates

Get The Iowa Torch right in your inbox!

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

Recommended Articles

Ernst Expresses Concern About Trump’s Upcoming Senate Impeachment Trial

Ernst: President Biden should follow Gov. Reynolds’ lead

March 5, 2022
Noem to Speak at Social Conservative Event in Iowa in July

Noem to Speak at Social Conservative Event in Iowa in July

May 11, 2021
Feedback Sought From Davenport Residents on City’s Flood Mitigation Plan

Feedback Sought From Davenport Residents on City’s Flood Mitigation Plan

August 31, 2021

Popular Stories

  • Reynolds Calls Biden’s Electric Car Goal ‘Short-Sighted’

    Feenstra: Combating President Biden’s electric vehicle mandates

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Iowa Schools Now Required to Lead Students in Pledge of Allegiance

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • New ad features DeSantis plan for southern border

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Reynolds, Governors demand ‘honest, accurate’ information about relocated illegal immigrants.

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Three LGTBQ Books with Sexually Explicit Material Pulled from Waukee School

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

The Iowa Torch

The Iowa Torch​ is a for-profit, news organization that focuses on political news as it relates to Iowans

Categories

  • Education
  • Federal Government
  • Iowa History
  • Local Government
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • State Government
  • Uncategorized
  • Uncategorized

Newsletter

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

© 2022 The Iowa Torch, a publication of 4:15 Communications, LLC.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • State Government
  • Federal Government
  • Local Government
  • Politics
  • Education
  • Opinion

© 2022 The Iowa Torch, a publication of 4:15 Communications, LLC.