In a broad general sense, much of what the draft maps show is no real surprise.
The fastest growth has been in Maricopa County, where population is up more than 21% since the last time the maps were drawn. Pinal County posted a 30.5% increase.
By contrast, Cochise and Santa Cruz counties lost population. And Pima County grew by less than 9%, less than the statewide 12% average.
So, to create districts of equal population and live within the numbers — 30 legislative and nine congressional districts — that means even more districts packed into urban areas to meet the population requirements. Conversely, it means large, sprawling rural districts putting geographically diverse communities into the same district.
It’s not just rural areas that are affected by unequal population growth around the state.
For example, the draft congressional map divides Tucson between two districts. That is not unusual, as there is currently a similar split.
However, the proposed line is roughly north-south along I-10 and I-17, contrasting with the current maps, which include downtown Tucson and the University of Arizona in the western half.
But to get the 794,500 residents it needs, that proposed west-side district is drawn to range from Tucson all the way west to Yuma and then north to the western Phoenix suburbs of Buckeye, Glendale and Goodyear. That potentially dilutes the votes and influences of those living in the Tucson section of the district to elect lawmakers of their choosing.
