PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - The national Republican advantage in redrawing districts for the U.S. House of Representatives was not a factor in Rhode Island, where Democrats hold every major elective office, outnumber Republicans nearly four-to-one and have occupied both House seats since 1995.
A nationwide Associated Press analysis shows Republicans won a 33-seat House majority in 2012 despite their candidates getting 1.4 million fewer votes than Democrats.
Rhode Island’s congressional districts were redrawn that year by a commission appointed by the state’s Democratic House Speaker and Senate president.
The redistricting moved some heavily Democratic areas from the 2nd Congressional District into the 1st District, where Rep. David Cicilline was waging his first re-election campaign. Cicilline ultimately won by 12 points, while Rep. Jim Langevin won by nearly 21 points.
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