Personal Statement
In this map, I started with PA-1 in Bucks County which under the new congressional lines is now part of PA-1 and is my home district. I believe it is state law that Bucks County can't be split in congressional redistricting. With the Bensalem area of Lower Bucks trending more purple just like NE Philly votes, it made sense to add NE Philly to PA-1 and to also add a small part of Montgomery County which was the case pre and post the 2018 redistricting.
The naming of my map clearly is displayed in how I split Philadelphia for PA-2 and PA3. Based upon Philly's pioneering grid like setup for the layout of the city, it seemed obvious to split the county along one of those numbered streets. (Broad St just like Front St are not numbered but would be 14th, and 1st, respectively.)
PA-4 is the remainder of Montgomery County which gives it clear non-splitting boundaries on 3 of its sides.
For PA-5 and PA-17, I split Chester and Lancaster Counties horizontally to create a 49%-49% district capturing bluer Lancaster with the rest of the eponymous county and the redder and bluer areas of Upper Chester County.
PA-6,7 and 8 are the competitive Lehigh, Poconos, and Scranton areas, respectively.
PA-9 and 11 are the more rural parts of the state which are now solidly red which balances out the 2 deep blue cities of the state.
PA-10 runs along the western border of the state capturing Erie.
PA 12 and PA13 partially is divided by the Ohio River paying homage to the 3 rivers that meet one another. Like the northern rural parts of the state,
PA-14, 15, and 16 are just as red, and these districts run the southern part of the state. This map has each party having 5 solid seats with 7 seats in the tossup range of 45-55 while splitting very few counties.
