The possibility that the U.S. Supreme Court will return congressional redistricting power to the Arizona Legislature has Democrats on edge and some Republicans giddy at the prospect of a new, GOP-drawn map. Under the current map, drawn by the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission, Republicans hold five U.S. House seats and Democrats hold four. Three of the state’s nine congressional districts — held by Democratic Reps. Ann Kirkpatrick and Kyrsten Sinema and Republican Martha McSally — are among the most competitive in the country, while the other six are lopsided in favor of either Republicans or Democrats.
Although the GOP’s exuberance runs the risk of getting ahead of the court, Arizona Republicans are privately entertaining scenarios about what a new map might look like.
Ideas include a GOP-friendly southeastern Arizona district that would protect the seat narrowly won by McSally in 2014 as well as making Kirkpatrick’s and Sinema’s centrist districts lean more toward the GOP, although a swing-style, Tempe-based district also is contemplated, according to interviews with politicians, activists and party leaders.
Full Article: GOP eager for lawmakers to resume Arizona redistricting.