Redistricting Panel Focusing on 3 Northern Districts

The panel charged with redrawing New Jersey's congressional map is zeroing in on three northern districts.

Districts represented by Republican Scott Garrett, and Democrats Steve Rothman and Bill Pascrell are emerging as the most likely to be reconfigured into two districts.

That would leave two incumbents battling each other in November. The change is needed because New Jersey is losing one seat in the House.

Thomas Jackson of the Garden State Bar Association says combining Garrett's district and Rothman's would help keep growing minority communities intact.

The 13-member commission has been sequestered in New Brunswick since Monday, trading ideas on how to eliminate one of the state's 13 seats.

The bipartisan commission hopes to reach agreement on a new map by Wednesday night or Thursday.