Lewis DelRosso and Cook Stand Up for Constituents in the Redistricting Process

1/12/2022

HARRISBURG – Reps. Carrie Lewis DelRosso (R-Allegheny/Westmoreland) and Bud Cook (R-Washington/Fayette) joined forces Wednesday morning for a joint press conference to address the lack of transparency from Democrats in the redistricting process.

The Legislative Reapportionment Commission (LRC) approved a preliminary House map, which was obviously gerrymandered, by a 3-2 vote. Chairman of the commission, Mark Nordenberg, brought in his own cartographer for the first time in redistricting history to help draw new districts; however, Nordenberg’s main role was to be a nonpartisan voice. Hearings are currently being held for the public to testify their thoughts on the proposed map.

“From what I can see, the preliminary maps that were approved by the LRC make no logical sense,” said Lewis DelRosso. “I think it is very reasonable to ask Nordenberg how these maps were settled on and why he thinks they make the most sense for our Commonwealth. Gerrymandering is not how you ensure a district, or a state, fair representation.”

Republican representatives across the state have spoken out on the proposed House map, most all saying that the Democrats have tried to rig this from the beginning to take back the majority in the House. This map hurts Pennsylvania and its communities by splitting shared services and school districts. It forces 12 Republican incumbents to run against each other and just two Democratic incumbents. It also forces four Republican incumbents to run against Democratic incumbents. Lewis DelRosso, a freshman legislator, would have to run against Rep. Anthony DeLuca (D-Allegheny), who has been in office since 1983. Cook, a three-year incumbent would have to face Rep. Pam Snyder (D-Washington), who has held office for five terms.

“My platform since I took office has been to advocate for a fair, accountable and transparent government,” Cook said. “The redistricting process has been none of those things since Nordenberg took over. This map is unfair. Nordenberg has not been transparent. And we will hold him accountable. His job was to be a nonpartisan voice when disagreements arose, but he inserted himself as a partisan voice siding with the Democrats at every turn.”

The LRC is made up of Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward (R-Westmoreland), Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa (D-Allegheny), House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre/Mifflin), House Minority Leader Joanna McClinton (D-Delaware/Philadelphia) and Chairman Mark Nordenberg, who was appointed by the Supreme Court and is the former chancellor of the University of Pittsburgh.

Rep. Carrie Lewis DelRosso
33rd Legislative District
Rep. Bud Cook
49th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Michelle Swab
717-260-6325
mswab@pahousegop.com