Pennsylvania, other states in tug of war before congressional redistricting

By Lois Romano
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Eli Evankovich is an accountant and farmer from a tiny town in western Pennsylvania -- and suddenly an important man. Contemplating a run for the state legislature earlier this year, he traveled to Harrisburg for the first time in his life and was startled to find himself enthusiastically courted by Republican leaders.

In any other election cycle, the 27-year-old rookie would barely register with political leaders in the state capital, never mind nationally. But this year, money will be thrown at his campaign against an incumbent Democrat, volunteers will show up at his farm and polls -- a rarity in state legislative races -- will be taken.

As the Beltway remains riveted on November's congressional midterm elections, another political war is taking shape in small communities nationwide, elevating hundreds of unknown Evankoviches to the front lines. The reason: Next year, state legislatures will take up redistricting, the once-a-decade task of redrawing congressional boundaries based on population shifts gleaned through the census.

(More here.)