GOP congressman warns against party getting 'too greedy' in redistricting efforts


While many Republicans may consider breaking up congressional districts represented by Democrats an opportunity to regain a majority in the House and establish a long-lasting electoral advantage, others are urging caution against taking the party's redistricting efforts too far, Politico reports.
Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.), the top Republican on the House Rules Committee, falls in the latter camp. He cited two previous instances in North Carolina and Pennsylvania in which the GOP redrew districts that favored the party, only to see state courts invalidate them. The new lines wound up allowing Democrats to pick up several seats. "They stretched the rubber band too far," Cole said. He also warned against getting "too greedy" because a "bad election" under redrawn districts could backfire and result in excessive seat losses.
Politico points to Kansas City, where "cracking" Rep. Emanuel Cleaver's (D) district is a possibility. If that happens, the GOP could take seven of Missouri's eight congressional districts in a good year, rather than the six they consistently get. But, at the same time, "four or five Republican incumbents would have to take a 3 to 5 percent reduction in the Republican base," James Harris, a veteran Missouri operative, told Politico. So, in a bad year, Democrats could potentially take three seats. In short, the risk of going after Cleaver's district may outweigh the reward for the GOP. Read more at Politico.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Tim is a staff writer at The Week and has contributed to Bedford and Bowery and The New York Transatlantic. He is a graduate of Occidental College and NYU's journalism school. Tim enjoys writing about baseball, Europe, and extinct megafauna. He lives in New York City.
-
October 4 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Saturday's political cartoons include the Einstein files, defunding the police, and an odd tribute to Jane Goodall
-
Mustardy beans and hazelnuts recipe
The Week Recommends Nod to French classic offers zingy, fresh taste
-
Under siege: Argentina’s president drops his chainsaw
Talking Point The self-proclaimed ‘first anarcho-capitalist president in world history’ faces mounting troubles
-
Museum head ousted after Trump sword gift denial
Speed Read Todd Arrington, who led the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, denied the Trump administration a sword from the collection as a gift for King Charles
-
Trump declares ‘armed conflict’ with drug cartels
speed read This provides a legal justification for recent lethal military strikes on three alleged drug trafficking boats
-
Supreme Court rules for Fed’s Cook in Trump feud
Speed Read Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook can remain in her role following Trump’s attempts to oust her
-
Judge rules Trump illegally targeted Gaza protesters
Speed Read The Trump administration’s push to arrest and deport international students for supporting Palestine is deemed illegal
-
Trump: US cities should be military ‘training grounds’
Speed Read In a hastily assembled summit, Trump said he wants the military to fight the ‘enemy within’ the US
-
US government shuts down amid health care standoff
Speed Read Democrats said they won’t vote for a deal that doesn’t renew Affordable Care Act health care subsidies
-
YouTube to pay Trump $22M over Jan. 6 expulsion
Speed Read The president accused the company of censorship following the suspension of accounts post-Capitol riot
-
Oregon sues to stop Trump military deployment
Speed Read The president wants to send the National Guard into Portland