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November 11, 2011 08:11 AM UTC

Judge Rules in Favor of Democratic Maps in Redistricting

  • 101 Comments
  • by: Colorado Pols

FRIDAY UPDATE #2: FOX 31’s Eli Stokols updates:

Senate President Brandon Shaffer’s campaign tells FOX31 Denver he’s not abandoning his Congressional bid even though the newly re-drawn Congressional district boundaries have made his uphill climb even steeper…

“From day one, he’s announced he’s running in C.D. 4,” said campaign manager Craig Hughes. “He’s still running in District 4.”

Hughes acknowledged that some of the proposed maps that weren’t adopted would have been friendlier to Shaffer; but, he said the voter registration breakdown in the 4th has always been tough for Democrats.

“You’d always want a map that makes an election easier than harder,” Hughes said. “But this is less about where the lines fall than about the disgust people have with a Congress that has a nine percent approval rating.”

On the newly-created marquee battleground of CD-6, Stokols continues:

State Rep. Joe Miklosi is the only declared Democratic candidate in C.D. 6, and is putting together a serious campaign, already having filled top staff positions.

But there are whispers that former statehouse Speaker Andrew Romanoff, who lost a 2010 primary challenge to fellow Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet, could make a run for Congress…Sen. Morgan Carroll, D-Aurora, has also been mentioned as a potential challenger to Coffman.

—–

FRIDAY UPDATE:



Metro-area detail



Metro-area detail 2–for high resolution click here

The AP’s Ivan Moreno reports via the Durango Herald:

The GOP stronghold held by U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman could be up for grabs after a Denver district judge sided Thursday with Democrats in their proposed redrawing of congressional lines.

Judge Robert Hyatt’s ruling makes Coffman’s suburban Denver district more Democratic by incorporating all of Aurora, the state’s third-largest city…

Both parties filed lawsuits after the state Legislature failed to agree on new district lines this spring to reflect population changes since 2010. The process was an acrimonious one, with both parties accusing each other of being unwilling to compromise.

Republican state Sen. Greg Brophy, who was on the legislative panel to redraw districts, said the Democrats got their wish with the judge’s decision.

“That means that all the disingenuous behavior by the Democrats in the Legislature paid off for them. They had no intention of negotiating with us. … They intended all along to go to court,” he said.

Adds the Pueblo Chieftain’s Patrick Malone:

In other parts of the state, key changes in the map that was approved include Larimer County’s split from the 4th Congressional District to land in the 2nd Congressional District with Boulder. Democrats told the court that the presence of research universities in both, the prevalence of bark beetles and unifying Rocky Mountain National Park into a single congressional district warranted the change.

The new 4th Congressional District includes the residence of Colorado Senate President Brandon Shaffer, D-Longmont, who is challenging incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Cory Gardner of Yuma. The original Democratic map displaced Shaffer into the 2nd…

“Despite the serious flaws in the court map, this plan still provides a clear opportunity for Republicans to maintain our Congressional delegation,” [Colorado GOP chairman Ryan Call] said.

The biggest development here is the sweeping change to Rep. Mike Coffman’s 6th District–the district always slated for the biggest changes due to population growth in this area needing to be redistributed. The decision by Judge Robert Hyatt yesterday is nonetheless close to the worst-case scenario for Coffman, and we have to note that the biggest political problems facing Coffman in this district are relatively recent and entirely of his own doing. Coffman’s attacks on bilingual ballots, strident rhetoric about major cuts to Medicare and Social Security, and other recent hard-right positions represent very serious liabilities in a competitive district. On the other hand, he’s raising lots of money, and if this is the district he’ll be running in, he’ll need it.

Rep. Ed Perlmutter’s CD-7 loses much of its reach into the plains, becoming a much more west-suburban focused district. If anything, this district becomes easier for Perlmutter to hold because of his unshakable ties to suburban Jefferson County–always the heart of his personal constituency. This map doesn’t make things any easier for Senate President Brandon Shaffer’s CD-4 bid, but everything we hear about his campaign suggests they have been working with expectation of a district that continues to lean GOP, as it does today, from the beginning.

The relatively minor tweaks to Rep. Scott Tipton’s CD-3 represent a challenge for Rep. Sal Pace’s bid to unseat what is generally considered to be one of the nation’s most vulnerable freshmen. We think he would have preferred a few more preferential shifts, but the district is still very competitive. It will be interesting to see whether this race or the race to unseat the now-vulnerable Mike Coffman in CD-6 garners the most attention next year.

As of this writing, we haven’t heard if the GOP intends to appeal today’s ruling, but the comments of chairman Ryan Call in several papers suggest they may not see a justifiable risk/benefit. It may be the case that getting to work now on a plan to defend their incumbents on this map is preferable to an unlikely gamble for a better deal in the state Supreme Court.

Bottom line: after an exhaustive legislative and legal process, battlegrounds aplenty for the coming decade. Not as partisans but strictly as political bloggers, and lovers of a good fight on general principles, we couldn’t be more pleased. Original post follows.

Much more to come. Suffice to say, this is a bad evening for Mike Coffman.

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101 thoughts on “Judge Rules in Favor of Democratic Maps in Redistricting”

      1. I’m a moderate Democrat. I’m not that impressed with her.

        What’s your take on Joe Miklosi? I respect your judgment and knowledge, Mr. Hasan, and would be interested to know.

        1. HGF – thank you for the kind compliment!

          My thoughts –

          First off, I don’t know Rep Miklosi too well – I hear he’s terrific and if he’s the only Democrat running in CD6, he can count on my support for sure

          Regarding Morgan Carroll –

          When I ran for State House, it was well known (and well advised to me) that I do everything possible to ‘avoid’ ticking off certain industries

          The biggest one was oil, because if you said that severance taxes should be increased, you can bet that a 527 would be waiting to fund mailers against you, in the budget of $100,000’s to millions

          However, the potentially second major industry was private operators of prisons

          Colorado, to my best knowledge, has one prison that is run by the Cornell Group, with many (I believe) also being built by them – debates are ongoing as to handing off more prison management to other private companies

          Since private prison management was introduced into Colorado, companies like the Cornell Group (among other prison profiteers) have been VERY active in Colorado politics, with their political PACs giving checks all across the board (the SOS website lists them all) — the result???

          Prison incarcerations in Colorado have SKY ROCKETED despite crime being at the same levels, over this last decade

          It is well known, amongst Colorado politicians and new candidates, that you should support private prison management and NOT speak out against it, because doing so will trigger a major 527 to come out against you

          In addition, cozying up to the prison industry will potentially bring in extra money, in the form of PAC contributions

          Now that said – I’m not against incarcerating criminals – but our drug laws, especially ones related to 3 Strikes are getting ridiculous! People who are addicted to drugs should be sent to rehab, not prison, where their care will be a cheaper burden upon the taxpayers and their potential chances at gaining a better living will be heightened

          But the entity that will MOST stand against such a policy is the private prison industry, who now have a strong grip over Colorado

          In my mind, the only legislator in Colorado to take a stand against the influence of private prisons is Morgan Carroll

          She has gone out of her way to criticize those who accept contributions from private prison PACS, as well as advocate for the reduced amount of incarcerations, in terms of victimless-crimes, replacing incarceration with rehab, an initiative that all private prison managers will be against, because naturally, that hurts their bottom line

          To me, Morgan Carroll is a hero because she fights for what is right, regardless of the obstacles or threats thrown at her – and that is the EXACT kind of leadership we need in Congress today

          I hope that answers the question? Please let me know if you need more background

          love and peace – ALI

          1. The private prison industry is immoral, and all too often results in wrongful incarceration of individuals in victimless “crimes”. Judges are being bought, for Christ’s sake. This is downright medieval:

            http://www.people.com/people/a…

            We as a people should be ever vigilant and stand tall and speak loudly against any and all its evil manifestations.

          2. Morgan Carroll is a hero because she fights for what is right, regardless of the obstacles or threats thrown at her

            I couldn’t agree more. She is not partisan. She consistently sides with compassion and fairness, and tears apart injustice with her incredible legal knowledge. To watch Senator Carroll work in the Senate is truly inspiring. There are fewer sharper minds in government.

            1. Worst legislator ever.  Maybe a smart politician, but absolutely horrible, horrible legislator.  The legislation she writes (particularly in the HOA area) is awful and does nothing whatsoever to solve the problems she identifies.  It just enriches lawyers.  And I know because I’m one of those lawyers.

            2. of the economic issues of medical practice.

              When the trial lawyers brought late bills in consecutive sessions to undo the Health Care Availability Act, she was genuinely surprised by the testimony of a rural family doc that Colorado Medicaid pays like crap and any increase in his malpractice insurance payments would make his practice economically untenable.

              1. I’d be curious to know if you guys tried to reach out to Senator Carroll and explain your position on the cited issues above?

                I have found Carroll to be very open-minded and accomodating towards an opposing view, should the argument be a good one

                Lastly – I honestly don’t pick my candidates based on my agreement with them, I pick based on character

                Morgan Carroll outpaces everyone in that department

                2. I am less excited by Fitzsimons VA hospital moving to Rep Coffman’s CD6.

                  Vets in this region are grossly underserved for medical care (compared to AZ, CA, DC, FL, TX, IL, NY, PA, MA, RI, etc, etc, etc).

                  We were unhappy, but understanding when BRAC closed Fitsiomons Army Med Center (1995).   And while we were excited by the Fitzsimons VA med center announcement  more than 15 years ago, there has been virtually no progress until Rep Perlmutter & Sentor Bennet.

                  I have vet friends who are free to relocate and settle wherever who ask me for an opinion. I tell them if medical access is an important part of their equation they should move somewhere else.  Those who push back that because they retired, they get TRICARE For Life and so they are not too concerned about access to the VA or DOD medical facilities.  And now the supercommittee wants to price us all out of TRICARE.

                  Rep Coffman, Marine veteran, has not been helfpul nor encouraging.

                  I’m posting this here because I hope you, Senator Carroll, can help.  

                  1) Build the new VA med center.  Make it world class and vet patient friendly.*

                  2) Get Secretary Shinseki to explain to the local community whatinhell is the hold up.

                  3) Push Rep Coffman to do the same.

                  *

                  Pt parking areas close to entrances and clinics.

                  Access to light rail. (the light rail should stop in the basement or the lobby).

                  Cafeteria (BK and Dominos don’t count)

                  Public Wifi.

                  PT facilities, including a pool and gym.

                  Electric car charging areas.

                  Dog walk area.

                  Lt patient/family residence for inpatients who require extended stay.

                  L1 ER.

                  Lecture halls.

                  Fish tanks.

                  Rooftop garden.

                  Blood donor area separate from the lab.

        2. He’s a good fundraiser and a hard worker.  He’s a pragmatic, art of the possible kind of guy.  He’s not flashy; he’s a man of the people.  He’s paid his dues in grass roots democratic politics working in the party and on campaigns.  He’s not a prima donna or a hothead; and he’s a man of action more than a man of letters.

          He’s more of a people person than a policy wonk, and more of a negotiator than an ideological warrior, although on policy issues my impression is that he’s pretty much right in the middle of the Democratic party, with few atypical positions for elected Democrats and no really quirky components to his worldview.

          Obviously, he doesn’t have the resume of prior political experience in elected office that Coffman does; as far as I know, he’s never held elected office and has never been a top executive in a big business.  He doesn’t have a lot of name recognition outside the inner circles of the party, although I know no one who does know him who has an unfavorable opinion of him; he may be unknown but he doesn’t really have any enemies.  

          He’s a tolerable enough public speaker, but he’s nothing to write home about as a scintilling orator.  He makes his point without being fancy about it.  He’d probably be more effective cutting deals in back rooms and getting things done in subcommittees behind the scenes than making speaches on the House floor.

  3. CD-6 was getting a little bit more blue each election cycle, it seemed – at least in local, statehouse elections. But Tancredo and then Coffman have continued to have a lock on it in Congressional elections.

    If this redistricting even forces Coffman to tack a bit more to center, that would be a good thing. After all, there was a time when Coffman refused to share a stage with Tancredo. But that was long ago, in a galaxy far, far away. Now Coffman and Tancredo are best buddies. Yecchhh.

    But I sure hope we can get a good, sensible Democrat in here sometime soon: someone who can get something done in a reasonable, bipartisan way instead of the Tea Party Tancredo wanna-be that Coffman has become.

    1. And I also am moving to SD-25 on the state maps, so I’ll be seeing a lot more of the southwest JeffCo folks than I have in the past.

      At least the districts are lining up with the new state legislative maps reasonably well.

            1. And she is a personal friend and one of the few rational people left in the Republican Party.  I have no desire to get rid of her whatsoever.

              Frankly, I’m also happy to be in Jeanne Nicholson’s district as well.  I helped her as well, as you know.

      2. It is kind of the gumbo of legislative areas.  A little bit of everything.  I doubt HD-25 representative Cheri Girou even knows where Gilpin County is.  Having to go from being represented by Claire Levy to Girou is enough to give you heartburn.  Ugh.

  5. Y’all gerrymandered it pretty good. I guess that means I have no option but to find some way to defeat Polis. Thank goodness the GOP won bigger legislative majorities in other states – you still won’t get the majority back in the House in 2012.

    1. It’s the Republicans who can’t win a fair fight. Why is that? Because their policy positions fly in the face of what is good for the commons, is why. The attempts across this country to suppress voters is Republican driven.  

    3. I was beginning to despair that I was going to be stuck reading Arapjoke posts from the wacky right for the rest of the year.

      Your a joke too but at least it gives us someone else to laugh at.

      Poor poor Republican victims.  This should be your sweet spot of whining.  Go for it for all the victimization that you can.  Cry me a river asshole.

  6. Eagle County and Lake County are back in CD3??? (my home counties)

    I’m a contributor to Sal Pace and I’m glad he’s running

    That said – with my name recognition in the Western Slope and Pueblo, I would feel a dutiful obligation to run (and win) CD3 for Nancy Pelosi and the Democratic Party, if Pace wasn’t doing it already

    I didn’t feel this way about the past CD3 map (and on the basis of conviction, I wouldn’t be eligible for it since Lake and Eagle were not in it) but in looking at this new Democratic CD3 map, I could beat Congressman Scott Tipton like a drum

    …but I hope Sal Pace does it instead.

    (PS – I think Scott Tipton is a good guy – of all the Republicans out there, he’s one of the decent ones, but that said, I want to restore the Speaker’s gavel to Nancy Pelosi)

      1. I disagree about Tipton, MAH. I’ve spent enough time on the Western Slope now, and have made some great friends there. On numerous occasions, as a major employer in Tipton’s district, I’ve called his offices and can’t get him to return a call for crying out loud.

  7. Love the competitiveness of the map, but I’m really conflicted right now.

    On one hand, Cory Gardner is pretty much now irreplaceable. Shaffer says he’s in it to win it, but I don’t see how that’s possible.

    On the other hand, with Larimer County in District 2, I’m not sure I care as much about Gardner. Tough one.

    With the 6th, I think this will give a great boost to Joe Miklosi. I think he’s a great guy and I’m excited to see him take on Coffman. Joe had a great quarter last year, and I bet with this new map released he is going to have the contributions flood in. I can’t wait to see Joe take on Coffman with this map.

    So, I’m mostly happy. But now I may need to find a new way to spend my free time rather than just hating on Gardner. Not sure I’ll have the passion anymore…

  8. becomes Greeley and Weld County, though the new swoop in to Trinidad might add a little bit of balance. This does make Shaffer’s run much more difficult in that the old calculus for Dems was to win big in Larimer, break even in Weld and lose badly out east. It would take a particularly egregious Republican to make this district winnable for a Dem. Perhaps against Musgrave, but Gardener hasn’t had enough time to demonstrate the crazy to the point that voters will turn.

    1. His far-right votes slashing funding for the elderly pretty much disqualify him from running for Senate. But CD-4 Republican seniors don’t seem to mind.  

      1. CD 4 has gone from being a Republican leaning seat to a seat pretty much as safe as CD 5.  Shaffer’s campaign is all but doomed.

        Cory Gardner is the big winner in this round of redistricting.

        1. about 4th CD’s new inroads into metro from the east? I get the feeling that suburbia and exurbia are going to simply add more republicans, but do they play the same game as the social conservative Musgrave/Gardener set?

          With such a safe republican seat, is there a chance for a future primary from a fiscal conservative that might be more moderate on social issues? Heck, is a yahoo from Yuma going to be able to outgun someone with a base in Douglas County?

          1. Honestly, he’s one of the brighter Republicans in elected office in Colorado right now, and is certainly doing nothing that is going to cause him to lose a primary challenge or even to give anyone cause to mount one.

            Front Range farmers are surprising modern and business oriented – not the homesteaders and ranch hands of old.  The farmer’s smart phone in the tractor is as likely to be spewing option prices as it is Christian broadcasting.  The technical sophistication, the financial stakes and complexity, and the management expertise involved rivals that of small manufacturers or medium sized construction companies.  They are not hillbillies or cowboys.  (I have family a few miles down the road from Yuma who have farms, so I’ve seen it up close.)  It is very religious territory to be sure, but the religious vibes there aren’t that different from the exurbs apart from the absence of megachurch sized gatherings of people.

            Also, farmers have taken a very slight hit in the recession relative to the rest of the economy.

            The rural vote and the exurban vote are really the two main components of the 4th CD.  It doesn’t contain any true surburs.  This map really separates the middle class first ring suburbs that end up in the 6th and 7th from the upper middle class exurbs that end up in the 4th.  

            There may be a little tension between deficit/tax hawks in the exurbs and farm subsidy supporters in rural areas, and a little tension on the issue of immigration (exurbians hate it, farmers see it as an economic necessity), but apart from those issue, there isn’t a lot of daylight between them on policy or style, particularly when it comes to social issues.  Douglas and Elbert county (apart from Highlands Ranch which goes to CD 6) are at least as much in the orbit of Colorado Springs as they are in the orbit of the Denver Tech Center.

            Moreover, his new district is so loyal that Gardner has a lot of freedom to pick and choose what stands he emphasizes within the GOP spectrum without fear of reprisal.

            I’d also not lump Musgrave and Gardner in the same box when it comes to social conservatism.  It isn’t that they necessarily differ all that much in their actually voting records and policy stances, but Musgrave was about social issues to the near exclusion of anything else – it was her emphasis and her style was to be as outrageous as possible to hug the spotlight for her issues.  Gardner places a much greater emphasis, at least publicly, on economic issues and has a relatively understated media persona.  Gardner is also, simply put, more polite in how he expresses his view, and less prone to foot in mouth disease than many of his GOP colleagues in elected office.

            1. has been minimal and his congressional tenure has been quiet enough so far that I can’t form a picture of him now that he’s in the big leagues. I formed my impression of him from his time in the legislature when his name got paired with Greg Brophy’s far too often.

              It’s probably unfair to conflate him with the political scene that spewed forth Marilyn Musgrave, but my experience with her was far more extensive (my dad actually graduated high school with her) and she may have grossly misrepresented the GOP of the eastern plains.

              Anyhow, now that Gardner can count on a relatively smooth ride in his safe seat, does he do the full Tancredo or will we see some moderation?

              1. Cory is smarter than that.

                His ambition will keep him from going too far right. He always struck me as the brightest of the three “Young Lions” (Penry, McNulty, and Gardner) we took on with the O&G rules.

                My relationship with then Rep. Gardner was always respectful…but not friendly.  

          2. The Republicans from Douglas County have pretty much been taken over by the social issues conservatives.  No libertarian fiscal conservatives need apply.  This is pretty much true of the entire district.  The most likely primary fight is from Gardner’s right.  He did after all vote for a couple of things that the Speaker and President agreed on.  That’s pretty much apostacy in the Republican Party today.

  9. The Denver map?  I can’t tell whether I’m in the 7th or the 2nd. Where’s the line in the Jeffco foothills?  Also, where do Cherry Hills and Greenwood Village fall?  Isn’t this where Coffman moved?

        1. You have to have a FB account and “allow” something called “scribd” (and I don’t like allowing stuff on FB – going to kick it out when I’m done), but yes, it’s much more clear as a pdf.

          I didn’t even see that link. Thanks for that.

        2. Congressional maps are always horribly drawn, at least if you’re trying to follow boundaries. On this map, there an area where districts 1, 2, and 7 converge in the SW Denver/Littleton/South Jeffco suburbs area, and the words “Dakota Ridge” are printed right over it. Since they’ve apparently grafted those Jeffco burbs onto CD1, it’s impossible to tell where exactly CD2 goes in that area. Maybe there’s a tiny, narrow little finger of it fitting between 1 and 7, maybe there isn’t.

          Also, these maps never show roads or natural features that make it easier to see where these boundaries really are. No need to say anything else on here.

          This isn’t unique to this situation, either. I lived in North Seattle and for a while was confused as to whether I lived in WA-7 (which is most of Seattle) or WA-1 (to the immediate north, mostly burbs but with a bit of the city… I think). The confusion was in part due to the apparently poor early software used by email petition gathering sites like moveon.org. They thought I was in WA-1, maybe because I had a ZIP code that crossed city lines. Downloading government maps couldn’t help me figure that out because they didn’t show roads. I figured it out thanks to government websites, but I never could satisfy my curiosity about where the lines were drawn.

          Rant over.

          2. I think what they did down there is pretty good given the City lines in that area.  AS you know, Denver annexed a bunch of crazy stuff down there as did Lakewood.  What they did was basically straighten up the lines of Denver and Lakewood and then even up the populations between the 1st, 2nd and 7th.  Given that this was a City Boundary map and given what’s going on down there, I think they did an admirable job.  So, if you live in Lakewood, you’re in the 6th.  Otherwise, you’re either the 2nd or 1st.

            2. I can’t tell that just from looking at the map. I don’t have city boundaries memorized, let alone precincts, perhaps unlike people who were once the party chairs in large counties.

              I am a bit aware of those crazy boundaries, only because I have to take my younger daughter to that area for preschool. I live in another part of Denver, near Fort Logan, where it’s apparent that Denver, Englewood, Littleton and Sheridan once made a land grab free-for-all style, so I can relate to insane boundaries from personal experience.

              My rant is about the readability of the maps, not the redistricting. If I can take your word about this corresponding to city boundaries, that helps and I thank you for informing me.

    2. Like Aristotle said, if you find the map called “Moreno South Congressional map” that’s the correct one. I have it, but I don’t have enough time to upload it and embed it here.

      The line for CD-7, CD-2 and CD-1(!) in the Jeffco foothills appears to be Highway 285 to the south, and C-470 to the East with Ken Caryl actually placed into CD-1.

      Cherry Hills appears to be in CD-1 and Greenwood Village appears to be in CD-6. I’m just guessing based on the Google map and the higher detail Moreno South map.

        1. That said, I say he gets a pass if he has to move houses, considering that he’s been a statewide official for a long time

          Personally?

          I’d love to see Coffman move to CSprings and take on Lamborn

          (and ps – he would defeat Doug Lamborn in CD5)

          1. Coffman has an Aurora base, and even though his district appears more difficult I think he will win there for at least the next several terms, though I would like to see the numbers.

            1. I should have pointed out further that Colo Spgs will never elect an outsider.  In 72 they got Armstrong, but never again have they been dominated.  In addition, Coffman knows this as he was there with me when all of this happened in the 70’s.

        2. and equally important, this is swing voter territory that is routinely a bellwether of statewide outcomes.  The GOP lean is not only thin on a percentage basis, but soft.

          As more affluent voters have moved to the exurbs, this district has gotten more middle class.    

        4. These are performance percentages for the new districts based on vote outcomes of the past two election cycles. [I got these from a former ColroadoPols-ter who wishes not to be named 🙂 ]

          CD1 – 66.4D 33.6R

          CD2 – 55.3D 44.7R

          CD3 – 45.5D 55.5R

          CD4 – 36.4D 63.6R

          CD5 – 34.6D 65.4R

          CD6 – 46.4D 53.6R

          CD7 – 51.2D 48.8R

          My unstanding of these numbers (which is limited) is that all things being equal, this is an outcome that could be expected if the seat were open and the D and R candidates were of equal calibre.

          Of course, getting equal candidates almost never happens and these numbers would be swayed by incumbency benefits as well as 3rd-party candidates in the same race.

      2. Keeps all rural counties together except one (Eagle).

        Keeps all cities in the metro area together (an unbelievable feat considering the strange boundary lines).

        Four largest cities (Denver, Colo Spgs, Aurora and Lakewood) each dominate a separate Congressional District.

        Five major metro counties (at least the population centers thereof) kept in tact.

        Districts are fairly compact.

        Nasty major county splits, one for each party (Douglas for R’s and Adams for D’s).

        Reunited Pueblo for the first time in a long time.

        Three districts which contain Denver and the inner ring completely in-tact.  (1, 6 and 7)

        A district dominated by Colorado’s two flagship universities.

        A district where the West Slope is mostly united.  

        A district where the Eastern Plains are united.

        Winners – Colorado electors who have districts that mostly make sense from a community of interest point of view.  Perlmutter.  Gardner.  Mark Grueskin.

        Losers – Coffman, Brandon Shaffer

        Looks pretty evenly balanced to me.

        Personally, not happy about being in the 2nd, but the Metro area is 3+ districts and I’m glad to see that three districts stayed wholly within the Metro area.  We’re also together with the mountainous portions of the metro area (Jeffco, Boulder, Gilpin and Clear Creek) which at least gives us a little more of a community of interest.

        Well done from a former active Republican who is now an unaffiliate who voter for a lot of Democrats.

        1. Two rural counties split add Park to Eagle.  However, this is a good split of Park.  The three precincts to the northwest in with the mountains of Jeffco is a good idea since these precincts are really connected to the Conifer part of the suburban mountains rather than to the rest of Park County.

          1. Only five of the largest counties where cities are more important than Counties anyway are split (Douglas, Jeffco, Arapahoe -which always has to be split because of Denver enclaves, Boulder and Adams) and six kept together (Denver, Larimer, Weld, Mesa, El Paso and Pueblo).  Wow, just wow.

        2. CDs 6 and 7 are much more geographically compact which means less driving by campaigns and constituents.  CDs 1, 3 and 5 are all but unchanged (CD 3 is slightly less sprawling), and CD 2 is about the same in area.  CD 4 is sprawling, of course, but it always has been.  

          Somewhat more respect for county lines than the last map also means few long hauls by party officials of counties that are just barely in a district.

        3. but I kind of like lumping in Larimer County.  They have Front Range issues in common with Boulder county more so than Sterling.

          This means that Polis can get some competition from a Larimer County Republican like Ken Buck.  That would be a fun face off from a political junkie point of view.

          Grand County is a big loser.  They would seem to have more in common with the Western Slope than they do with the Front Range except for their connection with Estes Park and the Winter Park area.

          1. Grand was already in CD2 in the past map, and as an Eagle/Summit/Lake boy, I actually like that parts of the Western Slope are in CD2, because instead of sending one Congressman to DC who’s sympathetic to Western Slope issues, we’re now sending two!

            That and – Jared Polis is the finest Congressman in the world – Grand is lucky to have him

            1. are pretty similar ideologically to Ken Buck, except maybe not so good with money. Larimer probably elects Democrats lately because the cross-pollination to their local GOP from Weld’s crazies makes for outlandishly unelectable conservative candidates.

        4. Waitaminute!  I thought that aragop poster proved you were a pathetic quitter or a RINO – either way, you’re kind of putting on airs to self define as politely and, truth be told, as nobley as you have.

          Nice try.

          And welcome to Boulder.

          1. Sizes, I will be happy to.  See my response to Arapgop when he made his idiotic original post.  Frankly, I’ll certainly put my Republican bona fides up against all but a very few comers.  My guess is that you weren’t even born when I was electing Congressmen.  But, please feel free to respond.  I await your response.  Otherwise, well, as my mother used to say, if you can’t say something nice, just shut up.

  10. some thoughts from the Durango Herald article: http://www.durangoherald.com/a…

    Rep. State Sen. Greg Brophy: “That means that all the disingenuous behavior by the Democrats in the Legislature paid off for them.”  (Points for the use of disingenuous.  Or maybe not, read on)

    Judge Hyatt:  calling (the Republican) approach to make minimal changes a “disservice to the people of this state or disingenuous.”

    Ouch.  Maybe Brophy should have read the judge’s decision before commenting.

    Ryan Call, Rep. state chair”  “Time and time again, the courts continue to rule in favor of the Dems in the context of redistricting.”  This is especially in reference to the fact that the Republicans lost in court in 2001, too.  What irony.  Fool me once, shame on you.  Fool me twice, shame on me.  (or the GWB version)  If you go to court and keep losing in the legal arena, maybe you should try following the law.  Or maybe you’re wrong.  Just saying.

    1. I guess if you are a member of the United States of Republicans then any action which doesn’t give your members an advantage is automatically illegal.  At least they’ll get to exercise their tear ducts.

    2. “That means that all the disingenuous behavior by the Democrats in the Legislature paid off for them. They had no intention of negotiating with us. … They intended all along to go to court,” he said.

      I’d like to know what he’d be saying if R’s had won. Wouldn’t it mean that R’s were the disingenuous ones that intended to take this to court?  

      2. The GOP did offer several attempts at a bi-partisan map in the legislature. The Dems were not even willing to consider them. One of the maps the GOP offered even favored the Dems more than the final one does.

        I have no doubt that the D’s intended to go to court, period. The R’s knew that and offered maps that the D’s should have jumped at, but they did not veer from their predeterined course. giving the R’s the opportunity to call them out for it and that the D’s fell right into that trap.

        Now Brophy is doing the “toldya so” dance, and, to me, looks like he earned the right to do so.

  11. Arapahoe County statistics per Clerk’s website:

    Total Active voters: 230,179

    Dems: 77,839

    GOP:  86,614

    During the Obama campaign, for the first time ever, there were more Dems than GOP in Arapahoe County.  Voter registration in Arapahoe County is going to be critical again — not just for the Coffman race, but for Obama, as well.

      2. So, let the Dem CD-6 primary begin in earnest.

        Let’s have lots of candidates — we have a real deep bench.  And, let them fight tooth and nail just like the Obama/Clinton fight.  The brutal primary fight in 2008 yielded huge numbers of newly registered voters, and a general election campaign organization that was seasoned and fired-up.

        Ready to GO!

  12. I wouldn’t put it past them to challenge the map just to see if they can get a map more to their liking, but I think Call’s statement writes the closing chapter: this map isn’t what the Republicans wanted, but it’s passable and could eventually (i.e. when/if Perlmutter leaves office) give them a good shot at CO-07 again (which had slipped a bit out of their grasp demographics-wise…).  It also still leaves them with a lean-majority in all of their currently held seats, even if the lean in CO-06 is exceedingly narrow.

    BJ’s griping aside (he’ll have to deal with the likes of me in his Congressional district), for the most part this is a decent map.  The big losers from a partisan standpoint are the Tancredo folks down in Ken Caryl, who now get Diana Degette as their Rep.  They’re not going to be happy for the next decade.

    2. The demographics are consistently moving away from Republicans in the Jeffco part of the 7th and there is a huge swarth of Adams County.  While the growth areas in Adams (like Reunion) which are Republican are in the 6th district.  The new 7th district won’t grow a wit in population over the next ten years and it might shrink.  I think this district is a solid D district.  And besides, the R’s have no bench in this area unless you want to count the two new reps from Arvada, which I don’t think you want to do.  I mean, even the City Councils are dominated by moderate Republicans who could never get through the primary and Democrats.  I just don’t see it.

  13. KDVR is reporting Brandon Shaffer is not giving up. I didn’t think he would, but it’s good to see his campaign say this publicly.

    “You’d always want a map that makes an election easier than harder,” [Campaign manager Craig] Hughes said. “But this is less about where the lines fall than about the disgust people have with a Congress that has a nine percent approval rating.

    “That Congress has just lost touch and Cory Gardner has become just another partisan ideologue,” Hughes said.

    I sure hope Shaffer gives Gardner a run for his money.

      1. All men and corporations are created equal…

        We the People and Corporations of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union,… ….our Posterity and subsidiaries, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

        “Activist judges” is such a load of crap. Code for “we want to bend the Constitution to our GOTP ideology and the third branch just sands in our way, wah wah wah.”

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