PA Has A New Congressional Map, GOP Plans To Challenge It

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Monday released a new congressional map, which will be used for 2018 elections. The map is likely to be challenged by Republicans, who have indicated they'll fight it in federal court.

The map was ordered to be redrawn by the state Supreme Court in January, when it determined the current district boundaries, drawn in 2011, were unconstitutional due to gerrymandering in favor of the Republicans.

The legislature had until Feb. 9 to offer up a replacement map and Wolf had until Feb. 15 to give it his stamp of approval and send to the court. But Wolf rejected the map submitted by the GOP members of the legislature, calling it partisan.

Since the legislature and the governor could not come to an agreement, the court was tasked with creating the map. Stanford University law professor Nathan Persily, who has a background in drawing political district maps, was hired to assist in the process.

Multiple sources say Republican leaders in the General Assembly are expected to attempt to challenge the map, but as PennLive.com reports, "unless and until they actually prevail in that challenge, these are the new lines effective with the 2018 election cycle."

An analysis by Politico says the new map creates "golden opportunities" for Democrats to pick up seats.

Wolf, in a statement released Monday, said "I applaud the court for their decision and I respect their effort to remedy Pennsylvania’s unfair and unequal congressional elections."

He noted his administration will work "expeditiously" to update Department of State systems and ensure all processes are in place to assist congressional candidates.

The Pennsylvania GOP called the map "judicial-mandering" and said it was "shameful."

"I expect we will be challenging this in federal court," said Pennsylvania Republican Party chairman Val DiGiorgio.

However, the Supreme Court has already rejected a previous request from Pennsylvania Republicans to intervene in the state court's ruling. Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. ordered the case not be referred to the full court.

Here is the map:

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