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Welcome to this week’s edition of REDMAP Rundown, a synopsis of redistricting news brought to you by the RSLC’s REDistricting MAjority Project (REDMAP).  This weekly update gives you the latest on what those in the Beltway, and across the country, are saying about the impending reapportionment and redistricting process.

In this week’s edition of the Rundown: The latest REDMAP Report expands the playing field, On the ground in Pennsylvania, Cross in Illinois, Indiana’s impending replacement, Hard to identify Arkansas Dems, Florida rules and North Carolina gets ready.

“Republicans, who seem to be pretty confident about the midterm elections on a congressional level, also are feeling pretty good about their prospects back in the states. … [RSLC Chairman] Ed Gillespie said … that ‘things have only gotten better’ since the committee released its initial report.” (New York Times, 9.16.2010)

“The report increases the number of expected Republican pick-ups to six legislative chambers — adding the North Carolina and Michigan houses, with at least 11 other Democrat-controlled chambers solidly in play. … It predicts that Democrats will make no gains this election season in state house control.” (Los Angeles Times, 9.16.2010)

State Legislatures Looking Red” (National Review’s The Corner, 9.16.2010)

“Top Republican strategists are becoming more confident that their gains in congressional races will have a down ballot impact on state legislature elections — further bolstering Republican power in next year’s once-a-decade redistricting.” (Politico, 9.16.2010)

“The new REDMAP report … said Thursday that economic anxiety and concerns over taxes and spending at the national level are trickling down to races.” (The Hill, 9.16.2010)

“GOP Expands State Legislature Playing Field: Republicans are increasingly bullish that they will capitalize on the national mood and make significant inroads in state legislatures this fall. … The RSLC will seek to capitalize on national issues in each of these districts.” (Hotline On Call, 9.16.2010)

“Republicans in November will win control of more state legislatures than previously projected, according to a report released Thursday, which could lead to more Republican drawn U.S. House districts during redistricting next year.” (The Daily Caller, 9.16.2010)

“Democrats have been fighting to regain control of the Texas House ahead of the next remap but top GOP strategists declared today that the fight is over, and they won.  Even worse for Democrats, the [RSLC] is predicting that Republicans will retake a half-dozen state legislative chambers across the country, and probably 11 others.” (Dallas Morning News, 9.16.2010)

NPR’s Mara Liasson puts the magnifying glass on both party’s efforts to shape the redistricting debate.  She’s on location in Pennsylvania’s 161st House District where Republican Joe Hackett is poised to pick the seat up for Republicans.

“Tom Cross is on a crusade. And he has put Mike Madigan squarely in his cross hairs,” writes the Carol Marin in the Chicago Sun-Times.  “The Republican minority leader from Oswego thinks he and his party have a realistic chance of wresting control of the Illinois House from the iron-fisted grip of the all-powerful Speaker Madigan and the Democrats. … Late last week, the national Republican State Leadership Committee added Illinois to its tier-one priorities targeting legislative chambers ripe for voter revolt.  According to the Republican group’s political director, Ben Cannatti, they’ve already begun putting ‘resources into winnable seats in Illinois.’”

The Indianapolis Star reports, “By all indications, voter enthusiasm Nov. 2 will dictate the outcome of [tax caps, Evan Bayh’s open Senate seat or Republican hopes of regaining a majority in the Indiana House].  If Democrats have a lackluster showing at the polls, if tea-party conservatives turn up as expected, and if property taxpayers stick to their guns, the following will happen … Brian Bosma will replace Pat Bauer as speaker of the Indiana House, and Republicans will get to control the important redistricting process that occurs after each decennial census.”

“For decades, Democrats have held most state and local elected positions from U.S. Senate to constable in Arkansas, but a new poll shows barely four in 10 voters identify with the Democratic Party this year.”  The Arkansas News writes, “In state and local elections, poll respondents were about even in their choices — 41 percent said they feel closer to Democrats and 39 percent said they feel closer to Republicans. Twenty percent said neither or that they did not know.  ‘The fact that they’re equal really does end up being a big positive for the Republicans …” said Andrew Dowdle, an associate professor of political science at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville.  Legislative redistricting next year in advance of the 2012 elections also will bode well for Republicans as Arkansas’ population base continues to shift from southern and eastern Arkansas to the GOP stronghold in Northwest Arkansas.”

The Florida Times-Union reports, “When voters head to the polls in November, they will cast three votes that could reshape the political future of the state – and the nation.”  In a separate story, the paper writes, “A campaign launched Monday to oppose a set of redistricting rules on the November ballot highlights a rift among black and Hispanic officials over what the proposed standards could mean for minority representation. … ‘In politics, you don’t have permanent friends, you don’t have permanent enemies, you have permanent causes,” [U.S. Reps. Corrine Brown] said. ‘I think the cause of making sure that we continue to elect African-Americans in the state of Florida is crucial.’”

And in North Carolina, political reporter Jim Morrill walks through the key races noting, “The next General Assembly will redraw legislative and congressional districts that will be in effect until 2021.”

The RSLC is the only national organization whose mission is to elect down ballot state-level Republican office-holders. To sign up for the REDMAP Rundown, or for more information or media inquiries, please contact Adam Temple at 571.480.4891.