Dec. 16, 2021Legislative Reapportionment CommissionDemocrats could make sizeable gains in Pennsylvania legislature under proposed new mapsby Kate Huangpu and Angela Couloumbis of Spotlight PAThe proposals advanced Thursday would give Democrats a path to victory in the state House, while the Senate would be a toss-up, with possibly a slight edge to the GOP.
Dec. 15, 2021House GOP advances amended Pennsylvania congressional map before public can analyze itby Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PAThe map approval process drew criticism from fair district advocates, Democrats, and at least one Republican, who said there was no need to act before additional public input.
Dec. 13, 2021ALEJANDRO A. ALVAREZ / Philadelphia InquirerHouse Republicans advance Pennsylvania congressional map bill — minus an actual mapby Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PAA state House panel chose to approve blank placeholder legislation, which the ranking Democrat criticized as a “shell game” for Republicans to rush through a map later.
Dec. 11, 2021TIM TAI / Philadelphia InquirerSee how the proposed Pennsylvania congressional map scores in every key areaby Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PAThe map’s lack of compact districts and its clear advantage for Republicans will likely be key sticking points as negotiations begin in the legislature and with Gov. Tom Wolf.
Dec. 9, 2021Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAHow to weigh in on Pennsylvania’s next congressional mapby Spotlight PA StaffThis year’s redistricting cycle has produced its first map, though it won’t be the last. Here’s how to get involved.
Dec. 8, 2021Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PAProposed redrawing of Pennsylvania’s congressional map draws mixed reviewsby Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PAThe state House GOP selected a map submitted by a former Republican commissioner in Lehigh County that emphasizes equal population above all else.
Dec. 6, 2021Matt Smith / For Spotlight PALos Latinos de Pensilvania trabajan para convertir los enormes avances de la población en un músculo político, pero aún se enfrentan con barrerasby Kate Huangpu de Spotlight PAHay más de 3 millones de personas de color viviendo en Pensilvania y estas comunidades han impulsado el crecimiento de la población del estado.
Nov. 30, 2021Matt Smith / For Spotlight PAPennsylvania Latinos work to turn huge population gains into political muscle, but still face barriersby Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PAAdvocates are turning to the redistricting process to secure political power, but legal and systemic roadblocks pose a significant challenge.
Oct. 28, 2021Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PADespite transparency vows, much of Pa.’s redistricting still takes place behind closed doorsby Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PAThe task of reshaping Pennsylvania's political maps falls to a small group of legislative insiders, a system that critics worry facilitates backroom deals.
Sept. 21, 2021David Swanson / Philadelphia InquirerPa. redistricting panel rolls back new policy to count incarcerated people in home districts, not state prisonsby Kate Huangpu of Spotlight PAAn additional 3,000 people will be excluded from a rule that ends “prison gerrymandering” in Pennsylvania’s state House and Senate maps.
Aug. 24, 2021TIM TAI / Philadelphia InquirerIn major shift, Pa. panel votes to count incarcerated people in home districts, not state prisonsby Sarah Anne Hughes of Spotlight PAThe move to eliminate "prison gerrymandering" will benefit communities of color when new House and Senate maps are drawn, but Republicans are questioning its legitimacy.
Aug. 20, 2021TIM TAI / Philadelphia InquirerHow to get involved in Pa.’s pivotal redistricting processby Sarah Anne Hughes of Spotlight PARedistricting will shape the balance of power in Washington and Harrisburg for years to come — and there are numerous ways for members of the public to have a say.
Aug. 18, 2021TIM TAI / Philadelphia Inquirer4 takeaways from new Pa. census data and what it means for redistrictingby Sarah Anne Hughes of Spotlight PAThe 5-member panel that draws new state House and Senate maps will have to consider how to evenly distribute Pennsylvania's shifting population.
Aug. 12, 2021Shane Dunlap / For Spotlight PAThe Pa. counties that lost and gained the most population in the last 10 years, rankedby Sarah Anne Hughes of Spotlight PAData released this week by the U.S. Census Bureau reveals that Pennsylvania’s population grew by 2.4% between 2010 and 2020.
Aug. 12, 2021Madhuri Shukla / For Spotlight PAPa.’s political mapmakers finally have new census data. Now the hard work begins.by Sarah Anne Hughes of Spotlight PABecause of census data delays, lawmakers have only a few months to create final congressional and legislative maps in time for the spring 2022 primary.
July 12, 2021ALEJANDRO A. ALVAREZ / Philadelphia InquirerPa. House GOP commits to public meetings, vows ‘most transparent’ congressional redistricting process everby Sarah Anne Hughes of Spotlight PARep. Seth Grove (R., York) said his committee will hold at least eight public meetings across the state and accept suggestions for the map through a new website.
July 1, 2021TIM TAI / Philadelphia InquirerRedistricting reform in Pa. is dead for now, advocates say. So what’s next?by Marie Albiges of Spotlight PAAnti-gerrymandering advocates are relying on promises from those in charge of drawing the state’s political maps to hold hearings and allow citizen input.
June 22, 2021Madhuri Shukla / For Spotlight PAPanel agrees to put guardrails on how Pa. lawmakers draw congressional maps, but not their ownby Marie Albiges of Spotlight PAThe decision diminished anti-gerrymandering advocates’ hopes of preventing Pennsylvania’s most powerful lawmakers from drawing maps that unfairly benefit one political party.
June 18, 2021Courtesy Sen. David Argall's officeKey Pennsylvania state senator backs Arizona-style election auditby Sarah Anne Hughes of Spotlight PA and Marie Albiges of Spotlight PAState Sen. David Argall said he did not know why his constituents were so distrusting of the results, as former President Donald Trump and allies continue to falsely claim the election was stolen.
May 3, 2021CHRISTOPHER MILLETTE / PennLivePa. Supreme Court picks former Pitt chancellor to chair powerful redistricting commissionby Marie Albiges of Spotlight PAMark Nordenberg, the third former law professor to hold the position, was selected by the court after the legislature’s four caucus leaders deadlocked on a decision.
May 3, 2021Charles Fox / Philadelphia InquirerAre Pa.’s state House and Senate maps gerrymandered? Depends on how you measure them.by Marie Albiges of Spotlight PAWhile a court declared Pennsylvania's previous congressional map was drawn to benefit Republicans, the current legislative maps have not faced the same level of scrutiny.
April 30, 2021Madhuri Shukla / For Spotlight PAPa. Supreme Court will pick chair of powerful state redistricting panelby Marie Albiges of Spotlight PAThe decision was handed to the majority-Democrat court after the top leaders in the House and Senate deadlocked on picking a fifth member.
April 27, 2021Madhuri Shukla / For Spotlight PAAnticipating ‘partisan’ impasse, Democrats ask court to prepare to draw Pa. congressional mapby Marie Albiges of Spotlight PAThe legal challenge comes just one day after the U.S. Census Bureau confirmed Pennsylvania will lose one of its 18 congressional seats, setting up a contentious battle to protect incumbents.
April 26, 2021TIM TAI / Philadelphia InquirerPennsylvania will lose a U.S. House seat after redistrictingby Sarah Anne Hughes of Spotlight PA and Colin Deppen of Spotlight PAThe widely expected loss of one of the state's 18 congressional districts sets up a high-stakes redistricting process.
April 6, 2021Madhuri Shukla / For Spotlight PAThe deciding vote in Pa.’s high-stakes political redistricting could be yours, if lawmakers agreeby Marie Albiges of Spotlight PAFour of Pennsylvania’s most powerful lawmakers are accepting applications to chair the redistricting commission, and advocates are hoping for independence.
Partisan primaries are fueling our political dysfunction but they can be fixed, new book saysAttendApr 19
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