Registration Changes: A New Map for Incumbents

by: Matt Stoller

Tue Jul 22, 2008 at 14:12


Via Real Clear Politics, this shows registration changes since 2004.

The only good news for the Republicans is Florida, which only shows a relatively slight gain for Democrats.  With the Jewish vote going overwhelmingly for Obama, but not as Overwhelmingly as it did for Gore or Kerry, Florida is a tough nut to crack.  That said, Nevada, Iowa, Colorado, and New Hampshire are becoming very winnable for Obama, while Pennsylvania, and Oregon are moving out of swing state territory into solid blue status.

These numbers are a direct result of George Bush and a massively competitive Democratic primary.  The consequence is not only a Democratic President and larger majorities in the House and Senate, but a shift in the makeup of districts for incumbents.  Right now, members are judged according to what percentage in their district went for Bush in 2004.  If a Democrat is in a district that went for Bush by 15 points in 2004, it is understandable why they have a conservative voting record.  They have to.  That is the 2004 map, and it pushes the caucus to the right.

A whole lot of members now in 'swing districts' according to the 2004 map may soon be in solid blue territory according to the 2008 map, and conservatives will move into 'swing district' territory.  All of a sudden, a conservative Congressman according to the 2004 map suddenly must change his behavior to suit his new 'moderate' district, and a moderate is now representing a safe Blue district.  The Democratic base will have a lot to work with in terms of moderates and conservatives, unless they change their behavior.  The 2008 map could profoundly move all members of Congress to the left.

Matt Stoller :: Registration Changes: A New Map for Incumbents

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Arizona numbers (0.00 / 0)
Can someone explain to me how the Republican's voter registration advantage increases between 2004 and 2008 despite Democratic gains, and what looks like a 10,00 GOP voter loss? Is this just a typo, or am I missing something?

yeah (0.00 / 0)
I'm confused by that too.

[ Parent ]
Well... (0.00 / 0)
One thing to keep in mind is that in addition to adding new voters and having voters switch party affiliation, local jurisdictions carry out voter purging procedures between national elections.

So in AZ the voters purged between 2004 and 2008 could have skewed more towards registrants with Democratic party affiliation.

NOTE: This is not ipso facto an attempt to purge Democratic voters. Purges generally target "inactive" voters who haven't voted in two consecutive elections. Larger numbers of voters who tend to register as Democrats also skip more elections, making them disproportionately more like to get hit by purging rules.

All this ridiculousness could be avoided if there was a Universal Voter Registration requirement similar to the requirement to register for the draft. Then folks wouldn't have to worry about who was and wasn't registered, they would just have to worry about making sure people were voting.


[ Parent ]
new mexico (0.00 / 0)
New Mexico is what appears to me the only really "good news" for the GOP.


Matt's final point a good one (4.00 / 2)
Nothing moves a congresscritter like movement among his/her constituents, although some of them are going to move more slowly than others.

We have an opportunity here to more some very conservative House (and a few Senate) members out the door, some of whom don't see that they are in any danger, and replace them with a more progressive Dem.

We have a few chances to elect a very progressive Dem.

And at least some of the Blue Dogs will be encouraged to move out of the obstructionist position because their district will now have more Dem voters, and also because they will lose clout within the party.

This is really a once-in-a-generation chance like 1974 for the Dems and 1994 for the GOP to decisively shape Congress.  We need more Better Dems to make that happen.

John McCain--He's not who you think he is.


2008 Map (0.00 / 0)
The 2008 map could profoundly move all members of Congress to the left.

That's change we can believe in.


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