Press "Enter" to skip to content

Posts published in “Day: December 27, 2009”

OR: A decade gone by

One in a series of posts about political changes, or lack thereof, over the last decade around Northwest politics.

In some ways, Oregon Republicans probably would love to have a do-over on this last decade. But what exactly would they do over?

Here is where Oregon was a decade ago in partisan office-holding:

Office Democrats Republicans
U.S. Senate Wyden Smith
U.S. House 4 1
Governor Kitzhaber 0
Statewide ofcs 4 0
St Senate 13 17
St House 25 35
Co Commissioners 28 56

.

And, after a decade in which all of the statewide seats have turned over and U.S. House seats have been up every two years, here is where it is now:

Office Democrats Republicans
U.S. Senate Wyden, Merkley 0
U.S. House 4 1
Governor Kulongoski 0
Statewide ofcs 4 0
St Senate 18 12
St House 36 24
Co Commissioners 23 49

Only partisan offices are included among the statewides and county commissions here; and there was some shifting among counties in choosing to have partisan or nonpartisan offices, so those comparisons are a bit of apples and oranges. (more…)

Dave’s Redistricting App

A new decade brings with it that wonderful political tradition known as redistricting. And just in time for the new year, a fine online (and free!) toy for all the political wonks . . .

Dave's Redistricting App is a 50-state map/database device (reliant on Silverlight), and maybe the best free device for political mapmakers around. The best thing about it is that it drills down to the precinct level, which is unusual for free interactive political maps.

This will be fun for Washingtonians and Oregonians who contemplate the possibility of a new congressional district. But it also allows for redistricting on the state legislative level, so Idahoans can join in the fun.