Thanks to Republican gains, folks are optimistic the lines will get redrawn by the legislature and not the Secretary of State or Democrats by themselves.

From Oregonlive.com:

“I actually think it is more likely they can get it done than when there is partisan control” of both chambers, says Secretary of State Kate Brown, who will redraw the legislative lines if lawmakers and the governor can’t agree. Congressional lines will be drawn by state or federal courts if legislators can’t do it.

With both parties primed to work together from the start, says Brown, a former legislator, there may be less of the suspicion that accompanies a plan drafted by lawmakers of only one party.

Until the November election, Democrats were confident they would have the opportunity to totally control the redistricting if they could hold the governor’s office. They did that when Democrat John Kitzhaber won the governor’s race, but Republicans picked up six seats to gain a tie in the House.

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