New map almost finalized:
https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/politics/2022/02/15/new-ri-maps-general-assembly-approves-political-boundaries/6698434001/Some controversy on the process:
State lawmakers Tuesday set the playing field for the next decade of Rhode Island elections — including their own — by finalizing new General Assembly and congressional district maps.
The new maps, like the old ones, were drawn by the legislature's long-time consultant, and observers of the once-a-decade redistricting warned that incumbent protection appeared to drive a lot of the decisions.
But House and Senate leaders said the six-month process involving 18 public meetings and maps posted online was historic in its transparency.
In the end, the new maps passed 58 to 8 in the House and 29 to 9 in the Senate. They now go to Gov. Dan McKee to sign into law.
Was it unconstitutional? Lawmakers made the redistricting commission follow the Open Meetings Act.
But also:
Surprising some political watchers, ruling Democrats didn't make major map changes to protect the state's Second Congressional District from a GOP takeover attempt, even after incumbent U.S. Rep. Jim Langevin announced he would not run for reelection.
In the last redistricting a decade ago, the Assembly shifted tens of thousands of Democratic voters from the second district into the first district, benefitting Rep. David Cicilline, who was facing his first reelection campaign.
The maps approved Tuesday do not move any municipalities into another district, but shift about 8,000 residents of Providence residents, which is shared by the two districts, back to District 2.
Rep. Barbara Ann Fenton-Fung, who is married to GOP congressional candidate Allan Fung, thanked House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi for not trying to tilt the playing field.
Other interesting stuff in the article.
