This comment was such a perfect example of why the gerrymandering story is utter BS, I wanted to bring it to your attention
From JLB:
It is really easy to blame this on redistricting, but that is really misreading the situation. Lets look at District 27, which encompasses almost the entire Pine Ridge Reservation. That district has a large Native American population, and a large Democratic voter registration advantage. The AP may look at that and assume it is done to keep all the democratic voters out of other more republican districts. However, that was done to comply with prior judicial orders regarding the Civil Rights Act. That is true in a lot of other “reservation districts.” However – note, District 27 still has two GOP House members.
What does this mean? That democrats are simply under-performing, as a start. With the voter registration advantage the Dems have there, it is almost unimaginable to expect GOP victories in that district. Oglala Lakota County was in the top 5 (or so) of highest percentage districts that voted for President Obama in the nation, yet they elected 2 GOP members to the House. That is true in every competitive district as well. The GOP simply has won every close district the last few cycles. This could be for various reasons, but the key is that you can not blame it on redistricting…..
One of the top 5 Obama districts in the country, and they sent 2 Republican legislators to Pierre.
Gerrymandering? No. Dems falling down as a party? Absolutely.
Do not forget about District 15…the “Holy Land” of the Democrats. The Democrats who represent District 15 do not want it broken up because it is a reliably safe seat for them. If it were divided into two or three parts to be combined with the Districts surrounding them there is a 50/50 chance that there would be even fewer Democrats going to Pierre than more.
Ohhhh noooo it not twue. it not twue… don’t make me heah that —————- The SCOTUSA has already struck down some of this crap in other states….