The long-awaited, highly anticipated drafts of Pennsylvania's new state legislative maps were unveiled on Thursday, marking a major milestone in the once-in-a-decade and politically pivotal redistricting process.

Spotlight PA and Votebeat report the immediate flashpoint was the draft of the state House map, which would force 12 incumbent Republicans into showdowns, as opposed to two Democrats.

Republicans called it a clear effort by Democrats to seize control. Democrats called it the undoing of years of unfair Republican gerrymandering.

You can view the House map here, and the Senate map here.

THE CONTEXT: The maps were drafted by the Legislative Reapportionment Commission, a five-person panel comprising four top legislative leaders from both parties and one nonpartisan appointee. 

The process is distinct from that involving Pennsylvania's U.S. congressional map — a draft of which advanced in controversial fashion this week — but similarly consequential, affecting Harrisburg's balance of power.

The state Senate map was unanimously backed by the five-member commission, while the House map passed by a 3-2 vote, with the two Democrats and the independent chairperson, Mark Nordenberg, voting yes.

The public — that includes including citizens and lawmakers in this case — now has 30 days to submit comments. You can do that here.