Sen. Brooks concerned about proposed congressional district changes

On Monday, the House and Senate redistricting committees held a press conference to introduce Oklahoma’s five proposed congressional redistricting maps that will be voted on in special session later this month. Senator Michael Brooks, D-Oklahoma City, said he was deeply concerned about Oklahoma City being split as well as urban southwest Oklahoma City being removed from Congressional District 5 and pulled into the mostly rural Congressional District 3.

“Too many Oklahoma City residents already have no idea how much of the city is south of the river. This new map will divide our city and our communities even further. At a time when much of the country is beginning to learn that we’re a big league city, this map carves us up for purely partisan reasons,” Brooks said. “It also throws south Oklahoma City, which is a very urban area, into a district that is mostly rural. Oklahoma City citizens may not have the same values and needs as the rural western part of the state, but they do often have the same values and needs as the rest of Oklahoma City. I am deeply disappointed and concerned by these proposed changes.”

The portion of southwest Oklahoma City placed into Congressional District 3 runs from 89^th Street north to 23^rd Street and as far east as Sooner Road.

The Legislature will convene the week of November 15 for special session to vote on the new congressional districts as well as make any changes necessary to legislative districts.