by Jim Tankersley
Forgive Reps. Rahm Emanuel or Jan Schakowsky if they seem a little lonely these days: The Chicago-area Democrats are watching their constituents move away at a quick clip.
Data from Polidata and the Almanac of American Politics show Schakowsky’s district lost more than 50,000 residents – or nearly 8 percent of its population – from 2000 to 2005. That’s the third-fastest-shrinking district in the country. Emanuel’s is the eighth-fastest shrinking – down 33,000 people, or about 5 percent.
“It’s concerning," said Kathleen Connery, an Emanuel spokesman, "and that's why Congressman Emanuel has spent so much of his time in Congress working for a viable mass transit system, for modern public schools, and to bring good jobs and opportunity to the families in his district. Just last week, for example, Microsoft announced it's bringing a 550,000 square-foot data center to Northlake.”
All told, almost half of Illinois’ congressional districts shrunk in the first half of the decade, including nearly every Chicago-area district. (Census figures show the city is down about 150,000 residents from 2000 to 2006.) Earlier this year, analysts predicted that the state’s growth trends would cost it a congressional seat after the 2010 Census.
The 10 fastest-shrinking districts all lie in urban areas – and predominantly in the Rust Belt – and all are held by Democrats. The list includes some of the highest-powered members of the House, such as Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California; Rep. John Conyers Jr. of Michigan, who chairs the Judiciary Committee; and Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones of Ohio, who chairs the ethics committee and whose Cleveland-area district is the nation’s fastest-shrinking.
The 10 fastest-growing districts, on the other hand, are largely in the Southwest and almost exclusively held by Republicans. The complete map is worth checking out.
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Comments
The trend's going to keep up for a while. Baby Boomers are getting older and retiring to warm and less expensive states. Frankly most just don't like the cold and they want their money to go further. When the Boomers all retire and migrate the trend will reverse itself and the economy will attract people - if Daley doesn't starve it in the meantime.
Posted by: Jack | November 13, 2007 3:32 PM
It'd be great for the country if both the Nasty Little Ballet Dancer and Congresswoman Crook were both out of the House.
Posted by: John D | November 13, 2007 4:08 PM
What this data doesn't show is that the suburbs are also turning bluer. Just because a Democrat moves to a largely Republican County, it doesn't mean he or she will vote Republican. Quite the opposite. Just look at all the trends and numbers lately. Most Counties show a huge increase in the Demoratic Votes. But, it's OK to ignore that number, it'll take some time bofore a county goes 51% blue.
Posted by: Lou | November 13, 2007 4:36 PM
LOL ... It's all about the economy that dems are so quick to dismiss. When you start earning decent money (over $40,000) you want to put as much distance between you and democrats as possible.
Posted by: K W Smith | November 13, 2007 5:36 PM
In other words, Democrats are OVER-represented in Congress, because their districts don't have many voters, while Republicans are UNDER-represented in Congress.
Put another way, big cities (Democrat) have more members of Congress than their population warrants, while suburbs (Republican) have fewer members of Congress than they deserve.
We'll never see a Swamp reporter acknowledge this fact....
Posted by: Bruce | November 13, 2007 5:44 PM
"GOD WORKS IN MYSTERIOUS WAYS RAHM FINDS OUT"
HE GIVETH AND HE TAKETH AWAY.
WELL HE CAN'T SIT BACK AND WATCH YOU LET GEORGE BUSH A LITTLE MAN, A MAN WITHOUT TRUE POWER TAKE IT TO YOU.
YOU GOT TOM DELAYED AND YOU DIDN'T EVEN KNOW IT.
SO INSTEAD OF TRYING TO BE A STATESMAN AND A MAN AT THE SAME TIME. BE A MAN FIRST, THE A STATESMAN SECOND. TRUST ME GEORGE BUSH CAN ONLY HANDLE ONE AT A TIME.
REDISTRICTING IS JUST ANOTHER WAY TO CAGE A VOTE!
Posted by: Roger Morris | November 13, 2007 5:54 PM
How hilarious! But I don't think she'll be lonely. The
Greens are targeting her, and we actually have a Republican running. Should be a fun one.
And these Greens are unhinged:
http://backyardconservative.blogspot.com/2007/11/gop-candidates-in-9th-8th.html
Posted by: BackyardConservative | November 13, 2007 6:02 PM
Maybe they're just trying to seek more friendly representation than Rahm and Jan.
Posted by: Dante | November 13, 2007 6:30 PM
What a shock - people leaving high tax Chicago and Cook County.
Posted by: Terry | November 13, 2007 7:44 PM
[quote]
We'll never see a Swamp reporter acknowledge this fact....
Posted by: Bruce | November 13, 2007 5:44 PM
[/quote]
Bruce, Swamp reporters can acknowledge facts, but they can't acknowledge YOUR OPINION.
Posted by: BC | November 13, 2007 10:14 PM
Long-term, these numbers will mean little: when the water crisis hits the west in 10-20 years--if not sooner--everyone will be coming back. Even to Buffalo.
Posted by: noknowno | November 13, 2007 11:10 PM
Bruce -- in other words, Democrats are moving to Republican congressional districts to take them over. Woot!
Posted by: D | November 16, 2007 11:12 AM
The Census estimates have always undercounted more urban areas and overcounted suburbs and rural areas: the difference between the 1999 estimate and 2000 count for Chicago was pretty amazing. In other words, this is speculation at this point. I'd wait for the actual 2010 numbers before passing any real judgments.
Posted by: PCC | November 17, 2007 3:56 PM
Simple
It's called TAXES!!!
Posted by: Bob | November 19, 2007 7:50 PM