A panel of Minnesota judges rolled out new district maps last week that will shape Minnesota elections for the next decade.
Many Minnesotans will have new representation thanks to revised maps released last Tuesday showing the redrawn legislative and congressional districts that will direct the state’s elections for the next 10 years.
The new maps could give edges to Democrats or Republicans in their battles for control of Congress or the state Legislature. They’ll give hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans new representatives — and give some representatives thousands of new voters. The new districts will reshape what parts of the state are politically competitive, and which communities have the voting weight to elect their own members into office.
The state is constitutionally required to redraw the boundaries of its voting districts to reflect population growth and shifts over the past decade, the latest based on the results of the 2020 Census. Each district must have roughly the same number of people, so districts where population was lost or grew more slowly are expanded geographically while the boundaries of faster growing districts shrink.
The state’s total resident population is 5,706,494 based on the results of the census, which makes the “ideal population” of the state’s 67 Senate districts 85,172, and half that, 42,586, for the 134 House districts.
Redistricting is the process of redrawing the boundaries of election districts to ensure that the people of each district are equally represented.
Local governments are responsible for redistricting other election districts:
• County boards are responsible for redistricting county commissioner districts;
• City councils are responsible for redistricting city wards;
• School boards are responsible for redistricting board member districts.
In addition, during the redistricting time period, cities and townships will establish (or reestablish) their precinct boundaries as part of the redistricting process, as will counties that have unorganized territory.
Tom Emmer
Minnesota’s 6th Congressional District in Stearns County lost the cities of Avon, Cold Spring, Richmond, Kimball, and Holdingford. Congressman Tom Emmer represents the district. The cities are now in Minnesota’s 7th Congressional District, represented by Michelle Fischbach. The 7th District also gained all of Morrison County, previously part of the 8th Congressional District.
St. Cloud, Sartell, Sauk Rapids, Waite Park, St. Joseph, Rockville, and St. Augusta will remain in the 6th Congressional District, as will all of Benton, Sherburne, and Wright County. The 6th district lost territory because the district’s population centers, like the St. Cloud area, grew. According to the redistricting data, 104,017 people in Stearns County live in the 6th District, and 54,275 live in the 7th District.
Minnesota’s Sixth District has been a reliable Republican stronghold over the past decade, represented first by Rep. Michele Bachmann and later Rep. Tom Emmer, after Bachmann’s retirement. The district lost the city of Anoka, which is now part of the Third District. It gained a large part of Carver county in the southwest metro, including Chanhassen and communities south of Lake Minnetonka. Previously, those were part of the Third District.
Shane Mekeland
The most significant change to the legislative maps in central Minnesota was having most of Benton County, including Foley, Rice, and Gilman go to District 10B. The area was part of Shane Mekeland’s 15B.
Mekeland’s new district — now titled HD27A — is entirely in Sherburne County.
“I announce that I’m officially running for reelection in what will become House District 27A(currently 15B),” said Mekeland in a statement this week. “While the district has changed a lot, I’m more than honored to earn your support to represent the people of the new HD27A.”
Mekeland is in his second term in the House, he was first elected in 2018. He currently serves on the Climate and Energy Finance and Policy, Higher Education Finance and Policy and Local Government Division committees. Mekeland lives in Clear Lake and is a business owner.
Andrew Mathews
Feb. 18 Senator Andrew Mathews (R-Princeton) announced his intention to run in the newly formed Senate District 27.
“After consulting with my family and supporters, I have decided to run for re-election in the newly drawn Senate District 27.” Mathews said. “Representing my constituents across Benton, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Sherburne, and Wright counties has been a tremendous honor. I look forward to continuing to be a strong conservative voice for my constituents both old and new.”
“It is critical our area is represented by someone committed to fighting for Constitutional values and conservative principles, and stand against big government bureaucracy in St. Paul. I am working hard to make sure our streets are safe, the fundamental right of parents to direct the upbringing of their children is respected, and that overtaxed Minnesotans get more of their money back. Our work is not yet finished and therefore I ask for your support.”
“Additionally, thank you to my friend and colleague Mary Kiffmeyer for her long record as a conservative champion and for her support of my re-election. I have learned a lot from her experience, and I wish her the best as she retires from the Senate.”
Mathews is in his second term at the Senate, he was first elected in 2016. He currently serves as the Chair of the Civil Law Committee. Mathews lives in Princeton with his wife, Elsa, and their son Daniel. They are expecting their second child in July. The newly drawn District 27 encompasses parts of Anoka, Mille Lacs, Isanti, and Sherburne counties.
Mary Kiffmeyer
Feb. 17, Minnesota State Senator Mary Kiffmeyer (R-Big Lake) announced she will retire from the State Senate at the end of the year and endorsed fellow Senator Andrew Mathews’ (R-Princeton) candidacy for the newly drawn Senate District 27.
“It has been an honor to be in the legislature and represent my constituents and neighbors,” she said. “I worked every day to support the district,” Kiffmeyer said. “I focused on meeting the needs of the region by fighting for millions of dollars to expand I-94, Hwy. 10 and 169, and protecting the state’s elections by increasing transparency and integrity in the voting process. My focus was always on helping make Minnesota a great place to live, work, and raise a family. “
“I want to thank the people of my district for their support. I found immense joy in serving and working for them, in fact, it’s the people of the district I will miss the most. I also want to thank my husband, Ralph, my children, and grandchildren for their support and encouragement over the years. I could not have done this without them.”
Kiffmeyer was elected to the Senate in 2012 after serving in the house from 2009-2011. She previously served as Secretary of the State from 1999-2006. In her time as Secretary, Minnesota had the highest voter turnout in the nation.
“I’ve been serving in government for more than 20 years. And it brings me so much joy to meet new people, hear their concerns, and solve problems together,” she continued. “I plan to stay involved in the state’s political process to support Republicans at every level. That’s why I’m endorsing my friend and colleague Senator Andrew Mathews for the newly formed Senate District 27. Andrew is a fantastic Senator and will serve the district well with his conservative values, his care for his constituents, and his incredible work ethic.”
Jim Newberger
Speculation has arisen as to whether former State Representative Jim Newberger will run for office following a retirement from the political realm when he lost a bid to unseat Amy Klobuchar as a U.S. Senator. He issued a statement last Saturday that he is indeed seeking the Republican endorsement for the newly formed Senate District 10.
The new district covers portions of Benton, Morrison, Kanabec, Crow Wing, Mille Lacs, Isanti and Aitkin Counties.
Jim and his wife, Michele, are empty-nesters and have been planning to move further north for over a year. They will be moving into the new district in April. Jim looks forward to bringing solid conservative values to St. Paul on behalf of the new district.
Newberger firmly supports the state’s current state legislators, Rep. Shane Mekeland and State Sen., Andrew Mathews.
“They are doing a great job and deserve our support,” he said.
Jim has lived in the Becker area since 1998.
“Becker is the perfect place to raise a family,” he says. “Moving here in 1998 was one of the best decisions Michele and I have ever made. Thank you, Becker community, for all you have done for us in the past 23 years! May God richly bless you in the years to come!”
Blake Paulson
Blake Paulson, a 2018 Becker Graduate, has also decided to throw his hat in the ring and run for the newly-formed House District 10B which includes Benton, Kanabec, Isanti, Mille Lacs, and Morrison counties. This is an open seat meaning there is no incumbent.
“As someone who has grown up in and worked hard to further our conservative values in Central Minnesota, I am excited to be running to represent the people I know and love from this area down in St. Paul,” said Paulson. “I look forward to being a champion for conservatism and also someone that the people of this district can trust to fight for them. I want to be an example to other young conservatives and show that it is time to stand up and fight for our future. It is time for a new, young perspective in St. Paul, that will be the peoples’ voice, not the voice of lobbyists and political leadership.”
Blake has a website in accordance with his run and that can be found at: blakepaulsonmn.com.
