Political Parties and Safe Districts

How the Democrat's Lost a Stronghold was written by Jacob Albert, Emily Atkin, Fausto Giovanny Pinto, and Matthew Deluca and was posted on September 14, 2011. The column records how the Demorats lost a seat they had held in Congress to a Republican candidate. The authors give an account of how unusual it is for a Republican to win the seat by stating that the last time a Republican won the same seat was in 1920. The column ends with an account of how the seat may be dropped in the 2012 redistricting of New York.

Th authors give an account of how New York has a 3 to 1 Demoract Republican ratio. Demorcates have resented the actions of the party and showed it in the election of Senator Anthony Weiner's replacement.
Republican's should have never been able to take the seat from a Democrat.

1. Joe Crowly is in charge of the Democratic Party in Queens, New York, but he is a Representative for a district in Virginia. Why might he be campaigning for candidates in New York?
Joe Crowly might be campaigning for candidates in New York because the House Seat vacated by Anthony Weiner was a seat held by Queens Democrats for 90 years.

2. What are some possible explanations for the lack of turnout among Democratic voters and volunteers?
The Democatic voters and volunteers possibly failed to turnout for the elections because of indifference and a lack of confidence in their party.

3. The article mentions unions pumping money and workers into campaigns, which way do labor unions usually lean?
Labor unions usually lean Democratic

4. Why would labor unions want to support a candidate for the House?
Labor Unions want to support a candidate for the House because they want to influence policy and if the help a candiate into office they feel they are more likely to get what they want
5. How does Weiner's resignation illustrate some problems with federalism?

It illistrates a problem with federalism in that the people can vote out of resentment and not on who is better suited to represent them
6. If people are saying that this is a defeat for Obama, what type of voting decision do you think 9th district voters made?

If people say that this is a defeat for Obama, the voting decision made by the 9th district was to replace the representative in the House with a Republican.

7. What important roles does Crowly have?
Crowly is the highest ranking New York Democrat and the biggest fundraiser for the congressional party
8. Why is it so unbelievable that a Republican won in this district?

Democrats out number Republican's three to one

9. What has happened if they are talking about eliminating the district? (hint: think about the purpose of the Census)
The state of New York was redistricted  based on it's population after the Census.