State Senate Redistricting - District 21 (SD-21)

State Senate - District 21
Current Rep – John Proos (R-St Joseph)

2010 Results - Old District (21st)
John Proos - 49,818
Scott Elliot - 25,062

This district changed but is still centered on Berrien County. It keeps Cass County as well, but loses it's portion of Van Buren County to the 26th District. It also adds St Josepth County which was in the 16th District. It still leans Republican, although Cass County and Berrien County can sometimes be competitive due to Dowagiac, Cassopolis, and Vandalia in the former, and Benton Harbor and Niles in the latter. Benton Harbor in particular is a democrat stronghold, but is outvoted by the rest of the county. Some state rep races were much closer in this area than they should have been in 06 and 08.

This isn't completely safe, but this district certain leans GOP, 2008 numbers notwithstanding. Even in that year, the state rep districts here didn't flip. 08 was a perfect storm for SW Michigan. Minorities in Benton Harbor, Cassopolis, and Vandalia. Chicago influence on Lake Michigan Coast. Chicago is about a hour away from New Buffalo. Proos survived 08 by over 6000 votes despite straight ticket voting Benton Harbor and Benton Twp. That's despite the other state rep district in Berrien County being extremely close. Proos won't be easy for the dems to take out, especially in non presidential years with no Obama on the ticket.

	McCain	Obama	Total	Diff	GOP	DEM	Diff
Berrien County	36130	40381	76511	-4251	47.22%	52.78%	-5.56%
Cass County	11114	12083	23197	-969	47.91%	52.09%	-4.18%
St Joseph County	12886	12322	25208	564	51.12%	48.88%	2.24%
			0	0	#DIV/0!	#DIV/0!	#DIV/0!
Total	60130	64786	124916	-4656	48.14%	51.86%	-3.73%
	Bush	Kerry	Total	Diff	GOP	DEM	Diff
Berrien County	41076	32846	73922	8230	55.57%	44.43%	11.13%
Cass County	12964	9537	22501	3427	57.62%	42.38%	15.23%
St Joseph County	15340	9648	24988	5692	61.39%	38.61%	22.78%
			0	0	#DIV/0!	#DIV/0!	#DIV/0!
Total	69380	52031	121411	17349	57.14%	42.86%	14.29%
Last St Senate	GOP	Dem	Total	Diff	GOP	DEM	Diff
Berrien County	30915	14554	45469	16361	67.99%	32.01%	35.98%
Cass County	9124	4681	13805	4443	66.09%	33.91%	32.18%
St Joseph County			0	0	#DIV/0!	#DIV/0!	#DIV/0!
			0	0	#DIV/0!	#DIV/0!	#DIV/0!
Total	40039	19235	59274	20804	67.55%	32.45%	35.10%