Michigan's 7th Congressional District (indeed, the entire state) is gerrymandering as an art form. It looks like a simple, fair design, following the county boundaries for the most part, and avoiding the wild twists and turns seen in other states.

Despite its appearance, the district has been designed to protect Republican incumbents. Conservative-leaning counties line the southern portion of the district, and the border is careful to include conservative suburbs of Ann Arbor and Lansing without including the progressive cities themselves. Battle Creek and Jackson (the "bluest" cities of the district) are offset by more conservative areas, ensuring that these cities do not add to Democratic margins in other districts.

However, the design is not perfect; it is not an overwhelmingly Republican district. Senator John Kerry won 44.9 percent of the vote. Congressman Joe Schwarz drew only 58 percent of the vote against an underfunded and forgotten Sharon Renier in 2004.

Demographic information via Michigan Liberal:

TOTAL POPULATION 667,542

PERSONS BY HISPANIC ORIGIN AND RACE
Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 21,113 3.2%
White 591,101 88.5%
Black or African American 37,403 5.6%
American Indian/Alaska Native 2,701 0.4%
Asian 5,331 0.8%
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 147 0.0%
Some Other Race 660 0.1%
Two or more races 9,086 1.4%
Not Hispanic or Latino 646,429 96.8%

HOUSEHOLD INCOME IN 1999
Households: 250,574

Less than $10,000 16,655 6.6%
10,000 to $19,999 29,268 11.7%
20,000 to $29,999 31,773 12.7%
30,000 to $39,999 31,479 12.6%
40,000 to $49,999 28,948 11.6%
50,000 to $59,999 25,629 10.2%
60,000 to $74,999 30,615 12.2%
75,000 to $99,999 28,988 11.6%
100,000 to $149,999 19,650 7.8%
150,000 to $199,999 3,794 1.5%
200,000 or more 3,775 1.5%

INDUSTRY
Employed civilian population 16 years and over: 318,845

Agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting 4,760 1.5%
Mining 5,411 1.7%
Construction 18,458 5.8%
Manufacturing 78,423 24.6%
Wholesale trade 9,129 2.9%
Retail trade 36,800 11.5%
Transportation and warehousing 10,103 3.2%
Utilities 3,685 1.2%
Information 5,457 1.7%
Finance, insurance, real estate 15,281 4.8%
Professional services 10,967 3.4%
Management services 7,833 2.5%
Educational services 29,053 9.1%
Health care and social assistance 35,698 11.2%
Arts, entertainment and recreation 3,219 1.0%
Accommodation and food services 17,519 5.5%
Other services 14,825 4.6%
Public administration 17,334 5.4%

Labels: 2006 Election