Jackson, Legislative leaders release statement following bipartisan redistricting vote

AUGUSTA — Today the Maine Legislature voted to approve new district maps during a special session.  This makes Maine the second state in the nation, after Oregon, to approve new Congressional and Legislative district maps.

 

Ahead of the 2020 census data being released to states, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court issued a Court Order outlining a compressed timeline, giving Maine’s Apportionment Commission 45 days after the census data was released to produce maps and then a window of 10 days for the Legislature to approve the maps.

 

Senate President Troy Jackson: 

“Today, the Maine Legislature made good on our commitment to ensure that Maine people have fair, accurate representation in their government. From the start, our goal was to keep districts compact, keep counties whole, and keep municipalities and communities of interest together as much as possible. It is because we believe Maine people deserve better than partisan fighting and political games when it comes to making sure they have a voice in the decisions that affect their lives. I feel honored to have served on the Legislature’s Apportionment Commission and am proud of what we were able to accomplish on such an expedited timeline. The odds certainly were not in our favor but once again, Maine lawmakers have proven that bipartisanship is alive and well in Augusta.”

 

Speaker of the House Ryan Fecteau:

“Mainers deserve equal representation. Every ten years, the Legislature must vote on new district maps that reflect population shifts as one step in the redistricting process. I am proud that Maine’s process is both transparent and bipartisan. Our laws require both parties to agree on maps, and the rules around how districts are divided are based on common sense. Despite the census data being late this year, with a much tighter timeline than ever before, the process was still one our state can be proud of. I want to thank the Apportionment Commission members for pouring so much work into each set of maps before the Legislature took this vote today.”

Senate Republican Leader Jeff Timberlake:

“Sometimes it takes a few weeks and many hours of working out our differences, but the result of the latest apportionment process shows that when all sides sit down and work together, we can arrive at a positive outcome for the people of Maine.”    

House Minority Leader Kathleen Dillingham: 

“Maine stands out in the nation for fair and decent political districts that aren’t influenced by partisanship. Gerrymandering isn’t something we worry about in Maine. I commend the Commission for their hard work over the last few months. To have a product that came together in a shortened timeline that was unanimously agreed upon by the Apportionment Commission, we can be very proud of that.” 

The maps will now go to the governor for her signature.

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