Snyder Signs New Michigan Map
Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder (R) signed a new Congressional map into law Tuesday.
The new map, drawn by the Republican-controlled state Legislature, puts Democratic Reps. Sander Levin and Gary Peters into the same district. The state lost a seat in reapportionment because of population loss.
Peters appears to be in the biggest bind under the new lines, as his current district was basically dismantled and he faces the prospect of having to challenge a veteran fellow Democrat or run in a district that favors the GOP.
The new map also strengthens the district of Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R) and shores up, by a slight margin, the districts of freshman Rep. Dan Benishek (R) and Rep. Tim Walberg (R).
Benishek won his first term with 52 percent of the vote while Walberg is serving his second stint in the House after winning a comeback bid in 2010 with 50 percent.
Michigan lost population from 2000 to 2010, according to census data. Detroit saw its population fall by more than 237,000 people over the decade, one-quarter of its population.