New Jersey Congressional Redistricting Commission members from both parties are expected to meeting with tiebreaker John E. Wallace, Jr. on Wednesday as the begin negotiations to hammer out a new House map before Christmas.
Democrats, who hold 10 of the state’s 12 House seats, are seeking a way to protect four incumbents in potentially tough districts – Andy Kim (D-Moorestown), Josh Gottheimer (D-Wyckoff), Tom Malinowski (D-Ringoes) and Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair) – from a 2022 mid-term election that historically works against the party that occupies the White House.
Republicans met with Wallace nearly two weeks ago and submitted the first draft of their maps, but Democrats have not yet done so. They have a meeting set with Wallace for 10 AM at the Cherry Hill hotel that is expected to be their base for the next few days.
It’s possible that the twelve commissioners – six from each party – won’t meet face-to-face until tonight or possibly on Thursday morning.
Wallace, the New Jersey Globe has learned, will not give either party his feedback until he’s had an opportunity to digest both proposals. He is widely expected to tell the two sides what he likes and what he doesn’t.
The two parties still have not agreed to a map exchange.
Democratic commissioners have had a tougher challenge. Some safe-seat incumbents have resisted ceding some blue municipalities to the more competitive districts. But none of the ten incumbents will be in the room.
Malinowski, Sherrill and Gottheimer are all seeking to shed red towns in the western part of the state, but they’re finding it difficult to draw a map that protects more than two of the three.
The commission is obligated to certify a map by January 18, but Wallace has told both sides he’d like to see a finished map before the end of next week.