Senate GOP Redistricting Map Changes Macomb Representation

Macomb Township voters could soon have one more representative in the state Senate, should the redistricting map drawn by state Republicans, and released today, be approved.

Three state senators currently represent Macomb County, but as many as four could sit in the Senate under the Republican plan.

Macomb Township, which is currently in District 11, would become part of the new District 10, also including northern Clinton Township and Sterling Heights. Sen. Jack Brandenburg currently represents Macomb Township, but as part of District 10, township residents would be represented by Sen. Tory Rocca.

Legislators have until Nov. 1 to pass redistricting laws, but Republicans have set a July 1 goal so as to finish before the Senate breaks for summer.

Democrats are also expected to release a proposed map today.

Should the Republican map be made law, most of the state’s 38 Senate districts, and especially those contained in Wayne County, would see significant changes in representation.

With Republicans in control of the Senate and House of Representatives as well as a majority of nominees on the Michigan Supreme Court, the outcome of a redistricting vote would seem to favor the GOP.

According to a source interviewed by the Detroit News, Republicans believe the new map creates 20 GOP-leaning districts, 14 Democratic-leaning ones and four competitive districts, all sporting similar population numbers.

However, the Republican map is already drawing criticism from groups such as Progress Michigan, Common Cause of Michigan and Clean Water Action, whose representatives take issue with lack of public hearings held outside of Lansing to give citizens an opportunity to comment on the map.

Progress Michigan: “This secretive redistricting process has allowed Lansing politicians to handpick their voters, when it should be the other way around, with voters picking their elected officials” said David Holtz, executive director of Progress Michigan, in a press release. “Without public hearings, these politicians have bent the rules and distorted their political districts for narrow partisan and ideological benefit.”

Common Cause of Michigan: “The public has been completely shut out of a rigged process that will impact them long after politicians have left the stage,” said Christina Kuo, executive director of Common Cause of Michigan, in a press release. “The only beneficiaries of partisan-gerrymandered districts are partisan political operatives and the wealthy special interests they serve. The people of Michigan will not have a voice as long as Lansing politicians shut them out of their own democracy, as they have done with this sham of a political map.”

Clean Water Action: “Communities across Michigan depend on clean air, land and water–for tourism, for business, and for quality of life,” said Cyndi Roper, Michigan director, Clean Water Action, in a press release. “These communities should have the opportunity to choose elected officials dedicated to being our voice, not the voice of special interests.  Without an open process, we will instead see representatives who won their elections because the process was created to benefit them or partisan interests.”