Why is Virginia purple on the above map? Congressional redistricting has not been completed there.

At first glance that looks like a really good map for the Republicans. At the very least it puts more on the table for favourable cycles. 4, 5 and 8 should stay solid red and 3 appears also strengthened, though most likely still swingy. 2, 7, 9 and 10 solid blue most likely with 1 and 6 rather without precedent. 1 looks to me like all the parts of Larsen's that lean Republican while 6 has been Democratic for eons but appears to have lost part of its Tacoma connection. I think this one ends up 5-5.

Actually, if it did end up 5-5 with the foreseen split it would highlight the east-west divide even more than before. :P

It is a fairly good map for the Republicans. Here's how I see it: 1: Flat-out swing district 2: Strong D 3: Swing - lean R 4: Safe R 5: Strong R 6: Strong D 7: Safe D 8: Lean R 9: Safe D 10: Swing - lean D #1 picked up some of the suburbs at the north end of Lake Washington, which are fairly populous and Democratic, which keeps this from being swing lean-R #6 lost some Tacoma territory, but only the GOP-tilting Tacoma suburbs, so not a net negative for D performance. It also lost Democratic Pacific county, but picked up Democratic (and more populous) Bainbridge. #3 has moved a bit R, but not much. Lost Olympia, but picked up Pacific. Still a swing seat, if leaning R.

Under further consideration, 10 should probably be just Lean D.

The open first is certainly the biggest surprise. Until now everybody assumed it would continue to be a Democratic district, so all the announcements have been on that side and no established Republican has entered. I would assume that will change rather quickly and it strengthens Steve Hobbs' candidacy as the moderate in the race. Darcy Burner has got to be angry with how this worked out.

Hmm. I think Redmond might be in the 1st.

So Washington has an independent commission?

The Washington Post went a little bit into the first: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/new-washington-map-creates-swing-district/2011/12/28/gIQASV9vMP_blog.html Apparently, Obama won it, but so did Rossi in 2008/10. Definitely a swing district, though the Post seems to think the Dems will be favored.

So Washington has an independent commission? It has a bipartisan commission-two Dems and two Republicans.

I think the Democrats are favoured in the new 1st right now for sure, certainly because the Republicans lack a big name. If they can get a known candidate quickly I could see it going either way, also depending on who the Democratic candidate ultimately is.

Republicans had wanted to create the Snohomish-based district that would lean Republican That's really difficult to do without crossing the Cascades. I guess if you took this 1st and dropped the north Lake Washington suburbs and extended it down through eastern King you might do it.

DailyKos is saying that the new WA-01 is D+1.

This is almost a GOP gerrymander.

Outside of Arizona and Colorado, most have been either fair or R leaning. NJ was a draw because dems won the state side and R's won the federal side. PA was a huge win for R's on the state side. It technically was a commission with a tie breaker.

image://images2.dailykos.com/i/user/73/TN_map__small_.jpg

the 8th is now a solid R district. Takes in all the blood red memphis burbs. Might be a primary issue for Fincher thoug.

Incumbent protection?

Does this lock up Jim Cooper's district?

Maybe slightly more R, as it takes in GOP parts of Davidson from the 7th, and those two rural counties might be slightly more conservative than Robertson County. They are yellow dog counties, though, and should vote for a moderate/conservative Dem.

Supposed to be a few points more Dem.

Apparently Michigan is also a preclearance state due to the Cluyde and Buena Vista townships. The Republicans in the legislature decided that the Obama DOJ was not to be trusted, so they decided to litigate in court instead. The DoJ has just granted preclearance to their maps. But this has no legal effect due to this decision.

What states do we not have maps in for? DKE/Swing State Project has Google maps for most states - http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/01/17/1051740/-Daily-Kos-Elections-complete-redistricting-resources?detail=hide&via=blog_542760