Sununu says he'll veto GOP-backed redistricting plan

[brooklynite]

Source: Boston Globe

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — New Hampshire Republican Gov. Chris Sununu said Thursday that he will veto a GOP-backed redistricting plan that would tilt the state’s 1st Congressional District toward Republicans while solidifying the Democrats’ advantage in the 2nd District, shortly after legislators passed the bill.

“The proposed Congressional redistricting map is not in the best interest of New Hampshire and I will veto it as soon as it reaches my desk,” Sununu said in a statement. “The citizens of this state are counting on us to do better.”

The Senate's 13-11 vote in favor of the plan on Thursday followed House passage of the bill in January on a vote of 186-164. Republicans lead by a narrow majority in the Legislature. Overturning a veto requires a two-thirds majority in both bodies.

“The proposed Congressional redistricting map was vetted appropriately through an open and transparent process where public input was taken and carefully considered,” said state Rep. Barbara Griffin, R-Goffstown, responding to Sununu. She chaired the House Special Committee on Redistricting.

Read more: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/03/17/nation/sununu-says-hell-veto-gop-backed-redistricting-plan/

[WA-03 Democrat]

1. The rarest of the rare

A republican that is willing to do their job.

[FBaggins]

2. Not sure that's the case

Both of the current districts are fairly evenly balanced (though both are currently held by Democrats).

The proposed redistricting would shift one seat to a likely republican pick-up while making the other fairly safely blue.

It may well be that he thinks that keeping both districts evenly balanced could turn them both red given current polling.

[WA-03 Democrat]

3. We'll see

His party was against it and seems like NH are trying to get fair voting districts. Now TX that is not happening at any level with an R at the end of their name.

[moose65]

5. I think you are probably right

Although NH is such a peculiar state. Their state house is enormous, with each representative only representing about 3,000 voters. For that reason it is subject to wild swings.

What other state voted overwhelmingly for Biden and their Dem Senator (Shaheen) while simultaneously giving Republicans control of both houses of their state legislature? It defies logic to me!

[PatSeg]

4. I'm still not going to vote for you Chris

[Rebl2]

6. Can they

override his veto?

[BumRushDaShow]

7. They don't have enough to override

and if anything, by allowing that change, the potential is there for a (R) seat pickup since apparently the 2 districts are currently about evenly balanced between (D) & (R) (with many (I)s/unaffiliated who I expect are providing the extra tilt for who gets elected). The proposed change would make it easier to have 1 (D) seat and 1 (R) seat, where the current 2 seats are filled by 2 (D)s (Chris Pappas & Annie Kuster).

[ZellyCabMem]

8. Current Lines

Under the current lines, we have held both NH seats in all but 2 years since 2012.

In 2020, we went from 14 of 24 State Senate seats to 10 of 24. The total vote margin in 24 races was +5k to the R's across all 24 races.