Renzi barely won it, 49.2%, in 2002, though could’ve just as easily gone the other way had Dubya not had an “up” year partly as a result of the ugly Wellstone Funerally. When Kirkpatrick won it as an open seat in ‘08, even with McCain running, she got a whopping 56% against a decent challenger who got just 39%. Unfortunately, Gosar didn’t want to run in the 1st in 2012, which might’ve kept Kirkpatrick from taking it back.
Although I don’t know how reliable the numbers are, it was listed as being 41% plurality Democrat registered (34% GOP).
That we’re even worrying about winning seats with this ridiculous Democrat minority gerrymandering is absurd. The delegation should be 7R-2D, not 5R-4D by less than a single digit percentage win in the 2nd.
Kilpatrick is a strong campaigner and I have to conclude her 2008 opponent Sydney Hay was weak, that result was the only dem blowout (and it was 2008 an awful year), Renzi won reelection by landslide in 2004 an easily in 2006. Gosar is a wussy for ditching it and letting that bitch back in.
Anyway my point is this is simply no basis for calling the seat that Renzi held “dem leaning”, and it’s still not even under slightly worse lines, Romney carried it, it’s best termed a close seat or a swing seat, if we go by voter registration alone then FL-1 was “dem leaning” as well. Clearly some of those registered dems are “Pintos” who vote GOP most of the time.
I don’t see how the author pegged him as a future President either, she is literally the first person I’ve ever seen say that.
“That we’re even worrying about winning seats with this ridiculous Democrat minority gerrymandering is absurd. The delegation should be 7R-2D, not 5R-4D by less than a single digit percentage win in the 2nd.”
Second worst Supreme dickhead decision of the year was them upholding the AZ redistricting commission.