Where will they draw the lines for a new district?
By Terry Murry on Tuesday, May 4th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
SALEM – The Oregon Legislature’s redistricting committees are working to create a sixth Congressional district. The process was slowed by the federal government waiting until much later than past deadlines to release the 2020 Census figures upon which redistricting is based.
The question of what area the Sixth Congressional District would encompass is yet to be determined. Rep. Greg Smith (R-Heppner) said he’s heard talk of a district that would be solely comprised of the Oregon Coast, but that’s not the only suggestion he’s heard mentioned.
“They may try to take Salem and the Willamette Valley and reach over the Cascades into the Bend area,” Smith said.
Smith said those designing the redistricting have to consider three main rules. The first one is that all of the state’s districts must be relatively equal in population.
“Number two, there have to be transportation corridors that are logical,” he said. “The last rule is you cannot divide districts up into little pieces and spread them around.”
Graphic is of Oregon’s current five Congressional districts
