Post random maps here

[Joe Republic]

Red = two female senators
Blue = two male senators
Gray = one of each gender

DC's 'shadow senators' are both male, and thus DC should be blue.

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[Joe Republic]

DC has shadow Senators?

Indeed it does; Paul Strauss and Michael Brown.

[Joe Republic]

A clue:  This map will remain accurate until the 11th of next month.

[Joe Republic]

A clue:  This map will remain accurate until the 11th of next month.

And now here is the updated map:

Any guesses?

[Joe Republic]

Lt. Governors, states that are gray don't have them.

Bingo.

[Joe Republic]

[Joe Republic]

Combined parties of Governors and Senators.

YOU IS WINNAR

[Joe Republic]

The political affiliation of each state's senior senator.

(If I'm correct, Oregon is wrong.)

[Joe Republic]

Anyone?

Hint?

Has to do with governors.

Affiliation of the majority of each state's governors.

[Joe Republic]

I think I've got it:

Dark red: Both Democratic senators serve as chairs of Senate committees.
Pale red: One Democratic senator serves as a committee chair.
Dark blue: Both Republican senators serve as ranking members of committees.
Pale blue: One Republican senator serves as a committee ranking member.
Green: The Democratic and Republican senators both serve as a committee chair and as a ranking member, respectively.
Gray: Neither senator serves as either a chair or as a ranking member.

[Joe Republic]

[Joe Republic]

ind vs. libertarian registration on the atlas, with the pale yellow meaning no registrations at all?

Nope, the colors are non-political.

[Joe Republic]

I'm afraid you are mistaken.  Excellent try though. 

The real answer is not quite as complex.  Think about population.

[Joe Republic]

Wow, you're really giving it some thought! 

You're right to look at a particular average, in terms of determining the difference between green and yellow.  But it's really a lot more simple than you think.

[Joe Republic]

You got it!

The darker the shade, the greater the population density in that state, while green states are above the national average and yellow states are below.

My source was this Wikipedia page, which places Texas below the national average.

[Joe Republic]

Could we get a hint, Smid? 

[Joe Republic]

I believe Smid is correct; it's the current number of House committee chairpersons to come from each state.

[Joe Republic]

A clue: current governors

[Joe Republic]

A clue: current governors

Religion?

Correct, but can you decipher the color code?

[Joe Republic]

You've got it. 

Red = Roman Catholic
Blue = Protestantism (all denominations)
Green = LDS
Yellow = Judaism
Orange = Serbian Orthodox
Gray = Undeclared.  (Seriously, I couldn't find any record of Paterson's faith anywhere.)

[Joe Republic]

Ben's map:  The current age of the senior senator, and their party affiliation.

[Joe Republic]

The color represents the affiliation of each state's senior senator, and the shade determines the age difference between them and the junior senator.  (Darker = less difference)

[Joe Republic]

The color represents the affiliation of each state's senior senator, and the shade determines the age difference between them and the junior senator.  (Darker = less difference)

Close, but you're thinking too hard.

The shade determines the decade that the senior senator was born in.  For example, 1930s = >30%; 1950s = >50%, etc.

[Joe Republic]

Something to do with the 1996 presidential election?

[Joe Republic]

Okay, I'm more than likely thinking about this too hard.  The red map is the combined Democratic vote for 1992 and 1996, up against the average Republican vote across both elections, and the blue map is the exact opposite for 1980 and 1984.  Anywhere close?