Urban/Suburban & Hispanic Representation
The preliminary Senate map doesn’t reflect the loss of population in more rural areas of the Commonwealth and the gains in urban and suburban areas. This will result in urban and suburban parts of the Commonwealth not having as much representation as their population merits. The LRC should adjust the Senate districts to better reflect the significant population shifts happening in Pennsylvania. Also, the LRC heard extensive testimony on Pennsylvania’s fastest-growing demographic group on the need and opportunity to establish Senate districts that would enable Hispanics to elect officials from their community. The preliminary Senate map, however, splits the North Philadelphia Hispanic community into four districts: 1, 2, 3, and 5. A Voting Rights Act-compliant, Hispanic-majority district can and must be established here.