[originalbuckeye]

The Redistricting Committee, comprised of two Republicans, two Democrats and one ‘Independent’, already fixed this one for the Democrats. They changed the boundaries to include more Dems than it had before the new Districts were drawn up. The Republicans sued to throw out the redistricting by this ‘impartial’ Committee. The ‘Independent’ turned out to be closely aligned with the Dems. They met in secret, without the Repubs on the Committee and behind closed doors, to draw up these new Districts with the help of a Group that had donated to the Obama campaign. I laugh when I hear about the Republicans gerrymandering in other states. In this red State of Arizona, the Dems pulled the wool over the eyes of the public during this redistricting. And now we are stuck with the new Districts for 10 years. There were two Districts that encompassed Tempe, Scottsdale and Fountain Hills. They were evenly split in their political affiliations but the Republicans won both, Schweikert and Quayle, in 2010. These Districts are now split the other way with Quayle and Schweikert in the same District and running against each other in the Primary. The other new District is now heavily Dem. The Dems really were successful in their redistricting of Arizona!

[Republican Wildcat]

That’s why those “bipartisan” commissions set up under the guise of not gerrymandering are a joke if they contain anything other than an even number of Republicans and Democrats and NO ONE else. Adding on the “independent” is the Democrats way of getting another liberal on the commission without them being registered as a Democrat in order to get control of it. Obviously very partisan if they put two incumbents against each other like that.

[Cyber Liberty]

I live in north Chandler, which is SE of Tempe. My district includes Tempe, Most of central Phoenix barrios and Sunnyslope, which is in north Phoenix (Dunlap)! I won’t see a GOP Rep for a decade.

[Impy]

You are right, redistricting sucked.

But you overstate it. This district now renumbered the 2nd went from 52% McCain in 2008 to 50%, only slightly worse. Also keep in mind that special election is for the old 8th district seat. Kelly would be helped by incumbency for the November election if he wins the special.

The new 9th went 51-47 for Obama. They have an edge but that’s not a seat we can’t win.

The first district which was abandoned by it’s freshman GOP incumbent for a safe seat went from 54% McCain to 51%. The race will probably be between former State Sen Jonathan Paton and Former Rat Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick.

I would rate the November elections for the new first and second district races as tossups and the ninth district as lean D.