PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A longtime western Pennsylvania congressman is retiring, a move that could affect the redrawing of congressional maps.
Representative Mike Doyle (D-Pittsburgh) announced this week he will not seek a 15th term in Congress.
Pennsylvania loses a congressional seat, based on 2020 census data.
“It would be easy for anybody drawing a map to say, 'Well, let's just carve that district up and push it out into the surrounding district," said Democratic political strategist Mark Nevins, as the Republican-controlled state legislature draws the Congressional districts.
However, Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf must sign off.
"If he vetoes all of their options," Nevins said, "then it will go to the (Pennsylvania) Supreme Court, which is Democrat majority."
That court redrew maps in 2018, changing the Pennsylvania delegation from 13 Republicans and five Democrats to nine each.
Nevins said state lawmakers could try to chip away at some borderline Democratic seats, like Susan Wild's in the Lehigh Valley, or Connor Lamb's out west.
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But they will also want to protect 50-50 seats like Brian Fitzpatrick in Bucks County, all while trying to avoid Governor Wolf’s veto and the state Supreme Court.
The process is already behind schedule because Census numbers were delayed.
Nevins noted that it’s hard for candidates and voters to plan when they don’t know who’s running where. It could mean Pennsylvania’s primary gets pushed back.
