Following the loss of a House seat in 2000, House Democrats proposed a new Congressional map that would later be dubbed the “tornado plan” because of its shape. As Representatives Chip Pickering and Ronnie Shows were being matched up, it favored Shows- the Democrat. Redistricting ended up in the courts and we got the current map, the one favoring a Republican. The head-to-head matchup wasn’t even really that close and the Third is now the longest running Republican held district in the state.
Flash forward to the next round of Congressional redistricting. I’ve opined that we won’t see many fireworks because little is at stake and not sweeping changes are necessary, or possible. Well, maybe possible if you are a Democrat and if Democrats had control of things in Jackson. (Of course, they did control the show last time around and couldn’t get their most aggressive plan through).
Majority in Miss.
4/20/11
Magnolia Tribune
