General Assembly approves new legislative districts

The General Assembly approved new legislative district maps Nov. 1 during a special session at Legislative Hall.

The Senate passed the maps by a 14-7 vote along party lines. Senate Republicans protested deviation numbers that gave growing Sussex County high populations while keeping New Castle County districts with populations on the low end.

“The constituents in Sussex County are way underrepresented,” said Senate Minority Leader Gerald Hocker, R-Ocean View.

On the House side, the redistricting bill passed 40-1 with Rep. Michael Smith, R-Pike Creek, casting the lone no vote.

The new district lines were created following the 2020 census, and they will be used for the next decade until the population is counted in 2030.

See more in the Friday, Nov. 5, edition of the Cape Gazette.