One of the puzzles of Massachusetts redistricting is what to do with Keating's South Shore and Cape district. It's currently the most Republican in the state and gave Brown nearly 60% of the vote. To make matters worse, Keating, like Bill Delahunt before him, lives in Quincy at the far northern end of the district, meaning that making a compact Blue district with the South Coast and Cape, like I did last week, will remove his home and his base of support. There are no easy ways to strengthen it without causing trouble for Lynch, who has the territory around Quincy.
What I propose is giving Keating New Bedford and the South Coast. This map uses water continuity to achieve that and keep his district largely intact.
There are other large changes as well. The first district is combined with the Lowell area. Boston is unpacked somewhat. Anyway here is the map:
No towns are split, except Boston. All population deviations are less than 0.1%.
District 1 (Tsongas) - Blue
Patrick: 117,467 Baker: 108,710
This district changes significantly, but retains Nikki's Lowell area base. While she looks potentially vulnerable to a primary challenge, the population distribution is favorable:
45.8% Middlesex County 24.5% Worcester County 29.7% Western Mass
For this reason, I think the map is unlikely as redistricting committee chair Stan Rosenburg would not harm Western interests, though the pressure from the incumbents for secure districts might override this.
District 2 (Neal) - Green
Patrick 108,459 Baker: 89,533
Neal gets all of the 5 colleges area, making the district safe for anyone. He could be vulnerable to an ideological challenger from his new turf, though other than his pro-life views, Neal is pretty party line.
District 3 (McGovern) - Purple
Baker: 116,351 Patrick: 115,093
McGovern gets some blue Metrowest towns in exchange for the loss of Fall River. The district is now compact and a reasonably good community of interest.
District 4 (Frank) - Red
Patrick: 133,939 Baker: 113,873
Frank's district changes quite a bit, losing the South Coast and Taunton, but gaining a good chunk of Boston to make up for it. (Allston/Brighton, JP, Mission Hill, West Roxbury and Fenway)
District 5, former 10 (Keating) - Gold
Patrick: 134,380 Baker: 130,187
The South Coast makes Keating's district safer.
District 6 (Tierney) - Teal
Baker: 123,699 Patrick: 113,329
In part to avoid the threatened challenge from Tisei, The Middlesex County towns are removed from the district and Lawrence and Haverhill are added instead.
District 7 (Markey) - Gray
Patrick: 134,744 Baker: 114,237
Markey's district shifts northward somewhat. Still safe.
District 8 (Capuano) - Periwinkle
Patrick: 144,522 Baker: 71,461
Grabbing some red towns of the Southeast to help out Lynch and Keating. White population is up to 58%, as Hispanic Chelsea and East Boston move to the ninth.
District 9 (Lynch) - Cyan
Patrick: 107,322 Baker: 95,043
Lynch gets a safe blue district, if rather ridiculously shaped. His district stays working class.