Capital Region Scene

Where do Saratoga, Warren and Washington counties belong?

State Senate Republicans are not happy with the proposed district for U.S. Rep. Chris Gibson, R-Kinderhook.

Responding to the special master's Congressional boundaries, which were released yesterday, the Senate Republicans argued that the proposed Gibson district "fails to respect the core of the district ... and the communities of interest that have formed around it."

They argued that Saratoga, Warren and Washington Counties belonged with the Hudson Valley region.

"As a result, the Proposed Plan preserves only 44.1 percent of Rep. Gibson's prior district," wrote Senate Republicans in a formal objection filed with the special master.

This objection likely stems from the fact the proposed changes to the district could make it a competitive seat.

The Republican advantage will probably drop from about 60,000 voters to less than 5,000 voters. Two Congressional sources from different parties suggested this would make the seat a Democratic favored district based on past performances in elections.

The Assembly Majority had no comment on the drafts. They submitted this stance twice, because on the second statement they acknowledged they were waving their right to voice objections to the proposal.

This could indicate the Assembly Majority is confident a compromise will be reached with the state Senate, which would make these lines obsolete.

Keeping with their position to stay out of this process, the state Senate Democrats also issued no comment. They previously declined to draft their own Congressional lines for the special master to review. Interestingly, though, the Assembly Republicans failed to voice any objections to the special master's lines, even though they did submit their own proposal.

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