Redistricting: In a stunner, bipartisan agreement on congressional map

Kari Chisholm

Even after the two parties came to agreement on a legislative redistricting plan, most observers expected congressional redistricting to wind up in court. After all, it was assumed, the Republicans had less incentive to compromise since the congressional map would go to court - instead of Secretary of State Kate Brown.

But in a stunning development, it seems that the parties have settled on a plan. You can check out the full map and zoom in and out to your heart's content here (Click to open "congressional districts" and then the eyeball icon next to "co-chairs proposed".)

Here's how it breaks down. In a number of spots, the Democrats got what they wanted in their final proposal:

• Tillamook County remains in Schrader's district.

• DeFazio comes up to take in Corvallis, but not Albany (which remains in Schrader). (Correction: Albany has been and will remain in DeFazio's district.)

• The area around Grants Pass remains entirely in Walden's district (and not partially split into DeFazio.)

The Republicans succeeded, as noted by the O's Jeff Mapes, in "[reducing] the Multnomah County footprint of the districts held by Democratic Reps. David Wu and Kurt Schrader":

• From Wu, Blumenauer picks up Downtown Portland, Old Town, Bridlemile, Hillsdale, and Multnomah Village.

• From Blumenauer, Wu picks up Northwest Industrial, Skyline Boulevard, and Sauvie Island. (This has the nice effect of making the border the Willamette River, rather than the artificial Multnomah/Washington county line. It's probably a net plus for the Rs, getting a smidge more rural/suburban, but I have a hard time believing that this shift make a huge difference.)

• From Schrader, Blumenauer picks up John's Landing, Palatine Hill, and parts south to the county line (though the area around PCC Sylvania stays with Lake Oswego in Schrader's district.) In Clackamas County, Beavercreek also moves from Schrader to Blumenauer.

• From Blumenauer, Schrader picks up Milwaukie, Sunnyside, Mt. Scott and parts of Happy Valley.

The key part of the compromise appears to be this final element. After initially proposing moving Milwaukie and the area around Reed College into Schrader's district, the Democrats backed off and just proposed moving Milwaukie. The Republicans didn't have Milwaukie moving, but did have Sunnyside and Happy Valley moving (along with Damascus, Boring, Sandy and the rest of rural Clackamas County.) The compromise map puts those elements together - and moves Milwaukie, Sunnyside, Mt. Scott and part of Happy Valley from Blumenauer to Schrader.

Of course, it's those parts of Clackamas County that are growing the fastest. The Rs are clearly betting that as those places grow, they'll retain their conservative character. The Ds are clearly betting that as those places grow, they'll do what Washington County did - and move to the middle.

And oddly, it's that uncertainty that probably made this compromise work: Both sides are gambling that it's going to be a good deal for them. Time will tell.

By Kari Chisholm June 30, 2011