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Allen West a Wild Card in Florida Redistricting
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Contributor | Jason |
Last Edited | Jason Sep 05, 2011 01:57am |
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Category | General |
News Date | Friday, September 2, 2011 07:00:00 AM UTC0:0 |
Description | Perhaps the hottest political story in Florida these days is the one whose final chapter won't be written until early next year. Florida will be the last large state to complete its process of congressional redistricting, and by all estimates, that won't occur until the Florida legislature reconvenes in January.
Thanks to a big influx of population, the census has given the Sunshine State two new House districts, along with the 25 (19 held by Republicans, six by Democrats) it now has. Where they will be located and which party they favor remains a mystery for now. In addition, the process is complicated by an amendment to the state constitution enacted by voters in a statewide referendum last year that requires congressional districts to be "contiguous" and "compact," equal in population, and to make use of existing city, county and geographical boundaries. The amendment prohibits drawing districts to favor or disfavor an incumbent or political party.
But the real mystery of Florida redistricting is this: What will happen to Rep. Allen West?
With Republicans controlling the Florida legislature and governorship, and thus fully in charge of the congressional redistricting process, it was assumed that a secure district would be carved for freshman West, one of two African-American Republicans in Congress and a nationally known Tea Party conservative from his frequent appearances on cable TV programs. |
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