ST. PAUL, Minn. - New political redistricting maps were revealed Tuesday in Minnesota. The boundaries for both Congressional districts as well as State Legislative districts have changed.
That means several things for both the folks in office as well as for voters.
One big change is that Republican Congresswoman Michele Bachmann now lives in the 4th district which is currently represented by Democratic Congresswoman Betty McCollum. The two incumbents will not square off though come this November.
"I want to make it unequivocal, I am seeking re-election in the 6th congressional district because those are the voices that I grew up with and poured their lives into me," said Rep. Bachmann.
Bachmann can run in the 6th district because there is no congressional requirement that says you have to live in the district you represent.
The new 4th district now includes Stillwater. That doesn't faze Representative McCollum.
"I'm running and I'm running to win and I'm very excited about getting out and knocking on doors and meeting new families. I'm going to ask for their vote and work hard to earn it," said McCollum.
There really weren't many huge changes to the congressional boundaries between 2002 and 2012. And according to at least one political expert, only one of Minnesota's eight representatives should face a tough election.
"It's a little more challenging for Chip Cravaak at this point simply because he doesn't have strong district lines that favor him at this point and there seem to be several democratic challengers out there," said Professor David Schultz with Hamline University.
The biggest changes voters will notice will likely come at the state level. The new boundaries have pitted 30 incumbent legislators against each other and left 15 seats with no incumbent. Not to mention, in the first election following redistricting, everyone must run for re-election. That means all 67 senators and 134 house members must run for their seats.
"The legislature is pretty close in terms of the balance between republicans and democrats and the lines could make the difference whether the democrats take back either of the bodies or if the republicans will hold," said Schultz.
As for voters, it's possible you have someone new representing you both in congress and in the state legislature, so you'll want to check on that.
But things like polling places will stay the same so you won't have to change where you vote.
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