What's next for PA18 (soon to be 14)?

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

The heavily gerrymandered monstrosity that will be relegated to the dustbin of history. With Lamb's victory (and it is a victory) it's time to look ahead. What will a dose of Democratic representation do to the good folks of southwest PA? Where does Connor Lamb go from here? To the new 18th? That's really Mike Doyle's current seat. Doyle is from Forest Hills that will be in the new 18th. Do you try to hold the new 14th as an incumbent? Are there enough Democrats and swing votes in the new district to allow Lamb to stay on? What do you think? It sure would be sweet to see that new 14th stay with the democrats.

Looking at the new map, the resources the Republicans threw at this race seem crazy for a 9 month seat. On it's face it would seem the seat would go right back to them in November. This must really scare them. At any rate the new district lines should allow for the current 4-1 representation in the Pittsburgh area to go to at least 3-2 (still in favor of the republicans, but still a pick up of a seat) The big changes are going to be in the eastern part of the state where every effort was made in the old maps to dilute democratic voters. The new districts provide for a truer representation of the electorate (which we know republicans don't like).

[femmocrat]

1. True.

I am in the 18th, which will become the solid red 14th. We will end up with a republican, probably Saccone. It will be very hard to find a democrat who could win those counties. Although, Washington Co. was 50-50 last night (before I went to sleep.) Forget about the others. Westmoreland has a large population, but only gave Hillary around 33% in 2016.

They love trump in "them thar hills."

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

2. Why were the republicans so crazy about this district?

If it's only going back to them in 9 months, why pour the kind of money into this race they did? Was it that embarrassing? Looks like the college towns in the district are islands of democrats. (Washington & Jefferson, Waynesburg & CU of PA).

[scheming daemons]

4. Because the K street money will dry up for them in the fall ... PA18 was a test case

to see how badly the electorate has shifted on them and what messages will work and won't work for the fall.

[scheming daemons]

3. Sadly, I will only have a Democratic rep for 9 months, as I will soon be in PA14.

Lamb will run (and win) in the new PA17.

Saccone will probably run in PA14 and win easily.


So I get Lamb until January 3, 2019.... then I'll be stuck with a GOPer again.


*sigh*


But overall, it is good news for PA. Because we'll be a 9-9 state (or even 10-8) instead of a 6-12 state.

[Laxman]

5. I've Been Stranded In A Deep Red District......

myself for 25 years. I can actually look across the brook and through the woods in my backyard to the neighboring district that is represented by a democrat. We are doing our best here to annoy republican representative-and making them spend money to defend this "safe" district.