While the upcoming Congressional redistricting drama will come nowhere close to the 2001 St. Louis Board of Alderman redistricting battle, which shredded Alderwoman Sharon Tyus’ powerful 20th Ward, I’d imagine some acrimonious days are ahead.
Missouri has added new residents over the past decade, but the rate of growth is so low that it will lose a Congressional seat. With Republicans in solid control of both houses of the state legislature, that means Democrats will probably bid goodbye to a seat.
Two leading candidates to see their seats altered or eliminated are Congressman Lacy Clay and Congressman Russ Carnahan. State Sen. John Diehl, the Republican from Town and Country, says the decision will be bipartisan and fair. But the state must turn nine districts into eight, and with Carnahan having narrowly escaped Ed Martin’s challenge in November, he seems the likely target of the GOP.
Meanwhile, Clay’s district is composed of many African-Americans. The legislature can’t target him for elimination or dramatic change without facing an almost certain civil-rights lawsuit.
The real irony here is that we are reminded the state has a Democratic governor. That would be Jeremiah “Jay” Nixon. He can veto whatever the legislature throws his way. Whether he favors Carnahan or Clay remains to be seen. But if I were Carnahan, I’d begin getting my private sector resume together, or I’d be planning to run for lieutenant governor in 2012—which is among the latest rumors in Jefferson City.
