And here we go again. According to the census, some redistricting is in order in Nevada to account for population changes. Like it or not, Hispanics are the fastest growing ethnic group and now comprise a significant portion of the "voting age" population in Clark County, Nevada. Clark County is the dominant political region in the state and is currently a wholly owned subsidiary of the Democrat Party.
So the problem is: Do we create a Hispanic majority district, virtually ensuring Nevada’s first Hispanic member of the U.S. house of Representatives, as the Republicans suggest; or, do we spread them out a bit to give "weight" to the generally liberal Clark County Democrat party? Both sides are submitting their recommendations that will ultimately be decided by Carson City District Judge James Russell. For the full details,The Las Vegas Sun gives this issue a fair reading today at http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2011/oct/11/democrats-present-redistricting-plan/
As I’ve said before, the real issue here is one of political survival. Southern Nevada is now a liberal Democratic bastion of state politics, with many of the state leaders term limited leaving them to run for less attractive statewide offices, or try to move to the ‘big leagues" of federal office. My experience with local politics in Las Vegas for the last three decades leads me to believe the Hispanic vote is reliably liberal AND a block vote. What does this mean to the current political power if the Republican "Hispanic Majority" district is drawn? Currently powerful Anglo politicians will almost certainly lose to Hispanic candidates.
I predict this one will require a flow chart and popcorn before it’s over, but no matter how it shakes out, neither side will be truly happy.
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