Gov. Rick Snyder, R-Mich., signed new redistricting maps into law today, as Democrats lost one seat in the U.S. House of Representatives and Republicans strengthened solidified their districts on the new map.
Snyder’s announcement that the legislation signing emphasized policy changes following the population loss rather than the political significance of losing a seat.
In terms of elections, the big winner with the new map is Rep. Tim Walberg, R, who no longer has to face his nemesis Mark Schauer after Schauer’s hometown was moved into a strong Republican district – which, as a corollary, makes Schauer one of the big losers in this process.
Democrat Reps. Sandra Levin and Gary Peters have been drawn into a district with each other, with the likely result that Levin, whose younger brother is U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., gets to run for and win the seat while Peters will hope for an appointment in state or federal government rather than have a shootout with Levin for the seat.
