Members of the Michigan Redistribution Commission have approved new maps for the state’s congressional districts, the state House and the state senate.
They reached their decisions after months of planning and more than 25,000 comments from residents across the state, and the changes will shape the state’s political landscape for the decade to come.
Commissioner Cynthia Orton said, “We made an agreement that we came together collaboratively, and we were able to pick up the maps today.”
He voted on Tuesday for congressional and legislative maps that are expected to be better for Democrats than those drawn by Republicans for the past two decades.
“Are they perfect? No, they’re not perfect, but we worked really hard, and we listened,” Commissioner Steven Lett said.
The commission was set up in 2018 to eliminate partisan gerrymandering by voters, and nearly all 13 members agreed that the process would need to be reformed.
Commissioner Brittany Kelom was overcome with emotion by how the final map affected black voters in areas such as Detroit, Flint and Saginaw.
“How do you balance the fact that we live in a place that loves numbers and math and proves things but then we have people who have access and experience of being deprived,” Kellomm said. said. “Do I wish we could work harder over time to address concerns. Do I wish there was more time to fix this, of course.”
Among some of the changes, Flint and Grand Blanc will now be in the same Senate district as Bay City, Midland and Saginaw. The newly created Eighth Congressional District includes several communities that Congressman Dan Kildy represents, but now includes parts of Midland and Midland counties.
“I think it works really well. It’s a compact district that feels like home to me,” Kildee said.
Kildee said the new district is familiar territory and he is confident of his chances of being re-elected.
“If they’re struggling to make a living, if they’re struggling to make sure they don’t have to choose between buying a life-saving drug or paying the rent, I think I’m going to be that family. And I’m fit for that district,” Kildee said.
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