She also has an ally in state Senate President Therese Murray (D), political observers in the Bay State said. Murray has been a strong proponent of more females running for elected office in the Bay State.
“It’s a barrier-breaking district,” Tsongas told Roll Call. “Given the trouble we have as a state electing women, I’ve heard from many throughout the district and across the state that it is important to keep at least one district that has elected women to give voice to the special concerns of this gender-based majority.”
Another potentially vulnerable Member in the redistricting process is the junior Member of the delegation, Rep. Bill Keating, a large part of whose district lost population between 2000 and 2010. But, as with Tierney, geography makes consolidating Keating’s Cape Cod-based 10th district difficult for mapmakers. The 10th borders Frank’s district, which is unlikely to be consolidated, and that of Rep. Stephen Lynch. A possible scenario is consolidating Lynch’s district with Keating’s.
Another big question mark as the redistricting committee moves forward is how they will draw districts in Boston. Most of the city is currently represented by Rep. Mike Capuano, whose 8th district has a high minority population. State Rep. Michael Moran (D), the other co-chairman of the redistricting committee, noted that under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, the committee would have to be particularly careful in how the 8th is redrawn.
The western part of the state, covered by the 1st and 2nd districts, also seems ripe for consolidation. But Rosenberg, who is from western Massachusetts, has a history with Rep. John Olver, who represents the vast 1st district that runs from the Berkshires on the New York border to Fitchburg in the middle of the state.
Rosenberg began his political career by working in Olver’s office and then followed him in his Amherst-based state Senate seat when Olver went to Congress. He might want to follow in his political footsteps once again when Olver retires.
In an interview, Rosenberg didn’t rule out running for Olver’s seat, but he said he would do what was best for the commonwealth, not a particular district or his political ambitions. Another factor: Olver is the only Massachusetts Member on the House Appropriations Committee, and Rep. Richard Neal, who represents the 2nd, is the only Bay Stater on the Ways and Means Committee.
All of the geographical and political contours of the state leave Rosenberg and his colleagues with a deeply difficult task during the next few months. They expect a draft map to be released in the fall.
“I am a dinosaur,” Rosenberg said. “I am very long in the tooth. So I have worked with every one of these [Members] over my 35 years in politics. I consider them all friends.”
Asked about the fact that his map would end up hurting a friend, he was blunt: “It is what has to happen.”
Correction: July 26, 2011
An earlier version of this story misstated the title of Bradley Jones. He is the state House Minority Leader, and he is not the only Republican on the chamber’s redistricting committee.
Rep. Bill Cassidy has his blood drawn by Alesha Barbour during a free hepatitis screening in the Rayburn House Office Building hosted by the Congressional Viral Hepatitis Caucus to recognize "National Viral Hepatitis Testing Day."
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