Thomas Marino (R)- 10th district of Pennsylvania....I watched 60 minutes tonight
for their 50th Anniversary special. That's when I saw the story about Thomas Marino and his writing the legislation allowing drug companies to more easily distribute some of their dangerous drugs (Opioids). And then dt appointed him drug Czar (but he withdrew his name). My understanding is that this particular part of Pennsylvania is currently one of the areas suffering from the Opioid crisis. Is this a seat that could be flipped in the upcoming Mid-Terms?
= new reply since forum marked as read
There are more registered Democrats than Republicans. But it was gerrymandered so badly that it appears to be "red" when it comes to Congress. I.e., the GOP manufactured 13 GOP seats and 5 Democratic seats where if the lines had been drawn fairly, there would be 10 Democratic seats to 8 GOP.
The rim districts around Philly & near Scranton that WERE blue before redistricting in 2010, are swing after gerrymandering and can be pickups - i.e, PA-6, PA-7, PA-8, PA-15.
In a decision that could tilt the congressional balance of power in a key swing state in favor of Democrats, Pennsylvania's highest court decided Monday that the state's GOP-drawn congressional districts violate its Constitution, and ordered all 18 districts redrawn in the next few weeks.
Less partisan congressional districts could give Democrats a chance this November to win back as many as half a dozen seats that had been lost to them over the past decade. It could also give the party a major boost in its quest to take back the House of Representatives, where Democrats need to net 24 seats to win control of the chamber.
“Yet another gerrymandered district map thrown out!!” tweeted Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) of the news. Today’s decision is a victory for democracy and another blow to the Republican Party’s nationwide effort to game the system," said Tom Perez, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, in a statement.
In a 4-to-3 decision, Pennsylvania's Supreme Court ordered the Republican-controlled state legislature to redraw the lines by Feb. 9, an extraordinarily quick timeline that will reset the districts in time for the state's May congressional primaries. Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf will have veto power over the maps.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2018/01/22/pennsylvanias-supreme-court-just-gave-democrats-a-big-win-on-redistricting/?utm_term=.56f2b67db236
Link to tweet
TEXT
Sheldon Whitehouse
✔
@SenWhitehouse
Yet another gerrymandered district map thrown out!! Pennsylvania overall cast more D votes than R votes for House in 2012, yet sent 13-5 R/D delegation to Congress thanks to "bulk gerrymandering." https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2018/01/22/pennsylvanias-supreme-court-just-gave-democrats-a-big-win-on-redistricting/?utm_term=.62fe0c028a5a&wpisrc=al_news__alert-politics--alert-national&wpmk=1 …
2:56 PM - Jan 22, 2018
The court found the map violated the STATE Constitution and that is hard for the SCOTUS to interfere with unless the provision in the State Constitution violates the U.S. Constitution (which it shouldn't because it makes too much sense and "states rights" ).
What the fed court could do is maybe delay it due to the aggressive schedule. 
and we can get some new districts drawn. The court here did leave open the potential to extend the deadline and/or move the primary date to accommodate this. 
