Congressional redistricting maps begin to surface

Editor’s note: Roby Brock, with our content partner Talk Business, wrote this report. He can be reached at [email protected]

The Wedge. Split the Delta. Fayetteville to the Fourth.

These aren’t the names of thoroughbred horses at Oaklawn, but they are likely to be competing interests in a race-to-the-wire finish at the Arkansas Legislature.

The myriad of plans to redraw Arkansas’ four Congressional Districts are as diverse as regions of the state.  At a closed-to-the-press meeting this afternoon, members of the House State Agencies Committee met to review some plans under consideration.

Talk Business has obtained a number of maps being considered by legislators, primarily Democrats, in addition to the map released earlier in the week by State Sen. Johnny Key, R-Mountain Home.

The maps have nicknames to describe part of their efforts. For instance, Key’s map has been called "Split the Delta" for its boundaries. There’s "Total Reorg," which similarly cuts the Delta in half and unites Little Rock with West Memphis. You can view that map at this link.



"The Wedge" is a complete rewrite of the district lines, which connects Pulaski County with Craighead County, in effect pitting 1st District Rep. Rick Crawford (R) against 2nd District Rep. Tim Griffin (R). That map can be viewed at this link.

Another nicknamed plan, "Fayetteville to the Fourth," seeks to buck the "Pig Trail Gerrymander" tag given by Arkansas News Bureau columnist John Brummett to a highly publicized, but never before seen, plan.

"Fayetteville to the Fourth" actually has a number of scenarios. There are several maps that would accomplish the goal. Sources were unable to provide those maps on account of their rapidly changing make-up. However, Talk Business was able to view 3 versions. In some maps, Hot Springs Village is moved into the Second District to keep it intact whereas now the village is split by the Garland-Saline county line and Congressional Districts.

At issue are five key counties in southeast Arkansas — Lincoln, Drew, Ashley, Desha and Chicot — that may stay in the Fourth or be moved piecemeal or wholly into the First. Under one map scenario, the entire eastern side of Arkansas is fitted in the 1st District.

According to multiple sources, the logic of the "Fayetteville to the Fourth" possibility allows Democratic votes from Washington County to move into the 4th District. It allows the 3rd District, which has to shed more than 100,000 voters, to keep major GOP bases in Sebastian, parts of Washington, Benton and Boone counties.

One source even argues that Fayetteville and Pine Bluff do share some common interests in that University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff is part of the University of Arkansas system, of which the flagship campus is in Fayetteville.

An argument has been made for weeks that two Congressional representatives for northwest Arkansas could be an asset to the region and there is some warming support from members of the business and political community to the idea. Originally, it was dead-on-arrival, but that mindset has modified to a degree.

Next week, state lawmakers in the Senate and House State Agencies Committees will have a full plate dealing with Congressional redistricting and constitutional amendment referrals. The constitutional referrals are expected to be dispatched on Monday and Tuesday leaving the rest of the week to wrestle with Congressional maps.

While population shifts and party interests will dictate some of the potential scenarios, another key factor to watch is the make-up of the two committees charged with winnowing proposals and finding an acceptable political solution.

The House State Agencies Committee is comprised of 12 Democrats and 8 Republicans, which allows the Democrats to control the agenda on redistricting.

In the Senate committee, the partisan balance is 4-4. There has been a commitment made by some senators to not utilize a little-used Senate rule that would allow a bill to be pulled out of committee, so a majority vote would appear needed to advance in the upper chamber end.

Regional interests from Democratic leaders — such as Senate President Paul Bookout eyeing northeast Arkansas’ prospects, House State Agencies Chairman Clark Hall’s Delta interests or Senate State Agencies Chair Sue Madison’s Fayetteville protection — could all affect the eventual outcomes of map drawing and votes.

Of course, Democrats hold slim majorities in the House and Senate and that could also be a factor if broad support isn’t found.

Get ready to place your bets. The horses, as they say, are "in the gate."