PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Despite a threat to block new political maps Republican state lawmakers returned to the Oregon Capitol as the Legislature passed legislative and congressional boundaries that included a new, sixth U.S. House seat.
The congressional map, which House Republicans say is unfair and boycotted on Saturday by staging a walkout, passed Monday in the House and Senate on party-line votes.
“The partisan legislative maps are a great injustice to Klamath County residents,” said Representative E. Werner Reschke. “But I have no doubt that these maps could have been even worse if they went to the Secretary of State. That’s why this process has failed the people.”
However to Oregon’s Secretary of State Shemia Fagan, the move to pass the new maps was a win.
“Congratulations to the Oregon Legislature for completing their Constitutional responsibility of redistricting of Oregon’s Congressional and Legislative districts.,” said Fagan. “With leadership and persistence, they came together and got this done for the people of Oregon.”
Democrats hold majorities in the Oregon Statehouse. Monday was the deadline for the Legislature to pass the new U.S. House districts or the task would’ve gone to a panel of retired judges.
The new map includes four U.S. House seats that either are safe Democratic or lean in the party’s favor, one reliably blue seat and one seat that could be a toss-up.
Governor Kate Brown issued the following statement after signing the redistricting bills passed by the Oregon Legislature today:
“The right to vote is sacred. In Oregon, we know that every vote matters because every voice matters in our electoral process. I’d like to thank the Legislature for coming together, through adversity, to pass legislation for redistricting. We do not always all agree, but when we find common ground, we can work together to do what is best for Oregon.
