Capitol Calling

Call it a case of dueling maps.

State Rep. Ron Casey, D-Jefferson County, put forward an alternative congressional map to one unveiled at a House committee dealing with redistricting. It comes as the Missouri House could take up the issue on the floor as soon as next week.

The first map - which was put forward by state Rep. John Diehl, R-Town and Country - notably put U.S. Rep. Lacy Clay, D-St. Louis City, and U.S. Rep. Russ Carnahan, D-St. Louis City, in the same congressional district. It also placed some of Jefferson County in U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson’s district, added northeast Missouri to U.S. Rep. Sam Graves’ district, placed Cole County in U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer’s district and gave Boone County to U.S. Vicky Hartzler’s district.

There are some similarities between Diehl and Casey’s maps. For one thing, the first district would still put the entire City of St. Louis into one congressional district. It would still create a mega-north Missouri district for Graves. And it would also place several rural counties into U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver’s Kansas City-centric district.

But from a quick glance, there are some notable differences. Here’s a snap analysis:

- The 2nd District - currently represented by U.S. Rep. Todd Akin, R-Town and Country - would include some of St. Louis County and all of Jefferson County. It could present a challenge for Akin [who mulling a U.S. Senate bid] or his potential Republican successor, since south St. Louis County and Jefferson County have Democratic tendencies.

- Casey’s proposal would place the residences of Luetkemeyer, R-St. Elizabeth, and Hartzler, R-Harrisonville, into the same district. Boone and Cole County would also get scooped into the district currently represented by Hartzler.

- Perhaps the most interesting change would be the new 3rd District, which would include all of St. Charles County, Lincoln County, Franklin County and St. Francois County. It would also include parts of western St. Louis County - including Chesterfield and Wildwood. That proposal is intriguing because nobody in the Missouri congressional delegation is from a residence in that district.

Of course, congressional candidates don’t have to actually live in the districts where they run. So this map - or Diehl’s - doesn’t necessarily mean there will be an intra-party primary between two incumbents. It’s possible that, say, Luetkemeyer could run in the 3rd District and Carnahan could run in the 2nd District.

Casey’s map was released in a press release from Diehl. He said the proceeding so far have been “a fair and open process from the start” and the committee “will maintain that approach as the process moves forward.”

“Our goal is ensure a transparent process as we work to create a map that ensures adequate and fair representation for each and every Missourian,” Diehl said in a statement. “It is my intention to give Representative Casey the opportunity to make the case to the committee that his map is a better alternative to the one presented to the committee earlier in the week”

Still, since Republicans outnumber Democrats on the committee and in the House, Casey’s proposal could face an uphill battle. Though it should be noted that some Republicans expressed unease about the first map.