New legislative maps carve Douglas County into two Senate, three House districts

• New legislative districts

This map shows the new legislative Senate and House districts in Minnesota as determined by a judicial panel.

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Minnesota's newly drawn legislative districts is likely to draw a common reaction in Douglas County: What?!

The lines had been simple before. All of Douglas County was located in Senate District 11, represented by Senator Bill Ingebrigtsen, R-Alexandria, and on the House side, the county was split almost in half between 11A, represented by Torrey Westrom, R-Elbow Lake, and 11B, represented by Mary Franson, R-Alexandria.

The changes announced today carves Douglas County up into two Senate districts – 8 and 12 – and three House districts – 8B, 12A and 12B (see map).

The boundaries were redrawn to reflect changes in population. Here's the population breakdown of the new districts within Douglas County:

District 8 – 23,137

District 12 – 12,872

District 8B – 23,172

District 12A – 5,181

District 12B – 7,691

The city of Alexandria is also split under the new redistricting, although most of the city, 10,415 residents, will now live in District 8 while 655 residents are located in District 12.

The fallout from the new lines will take some time to sort through as senators and representatives analyze them and determine their next steps but here's how things shape up right now:

Ingebrigtsen is now in the same district, District 8, as fellow Republican senator, Gretchen Hoffman of Vergas.

The Senate District 12 seat is open since no incumbent lives within that newly drawn area.

On the House side, Franson is now in the same district, District 8B, as fellow Republican representative, Mark Murdock of Otter Tail. Murdock, however, has announced that he will not run again.

Westrom, meanwhile, has District 12A to himself, as does Paul Anderson, R-Starbuck in District 12B.

In coming days, some legislators and potential candidates may consider moving to a new district. As reported by the Echo Press Capitol Bureau Reporter Don Davis, a legislative candidate must live in the district at least six months before the November 6 election day.

One thing about the new boundaries is simple: Douglas County remains in the 7th Congressional District represented by Collin Peterson.

Watch for follow-up stories in the Echo Press.

Tags: local news, news, updates, politics