DOUGLAS COUNTY – Minnesota’s newly drawn legislative districts will bring a few changes to Douglas County.
For starters, the county will now be represented by four legislators, not five.
The new statewide boundaries were determined by a special redistricting panel of five judges after legislators from both parties could not reach an agreement. The new legislative map, which is based on population shifts, was released on Tuesday, Feb. 15.
The new boundaries will be used for the 2022 elections.
In a nutshell, Douglas County will be split into two Senate districts – 9 and 12 – and two House districts, 9B and 12B.
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Here’s how it will impact Dougals County:
- House District 8B, currently represented by Mary Franson, R-Alexandria, will change to District 12B and will no longer include Otter Tail County. The new district, however, will pick up the northeast corner of Pope County and the northwestern part of Stearns County. District 12B will also include, roughly, the eastern half of Douglas County.
“I am looking forward to meeting the wonderful new constituents in Pope and Stearns counties that I hope to have the honor of representing,” Franson said in a statement to the Echo Press. “Until Jan. 3, 2023, I am still the representative of Minnesota House District 8B. My plans have not changed; we have lots of work to do, including bonding proposals for Spitzer Lake and Ottertail city. It is an honor to represent the best.”
Franson encouraged constituents to call her with any concerns regarding any issue related to state government at either 651-296-3201 or
rep.mary.franson@house.mn
.
A DFL candidate, Jeremy Vinar of Alexandria, announced months ago that he’s running against Franson.
- The new House District 9B, which includes the western half of Douglas County, could have pitted two Republican incumbents, Jordan Rasmusson, R-Fergus Falls, and Jeff Backer, R-Browns Valley, against each other. But Rasmusson announced last month that he is running for Minnesota Senate.
- The new Senate District 12 is an open seat. It includes roughly half of Douglas County, along with all of Big Stone, Stevents, Swift and most of Pope and Stearns counties.
- District 12B, which includes about a quarter of Douglas County and is currently represented by Paul Anderson, R-Starbuck, will become District 12A. It does not include Douglas County.
- Senate District 8, represented by Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen, R-Alexandria, will change to District 9 and include roughly half of Douglas County, along with all of Ottertail, Grant, Wilken and Traverse counties. Ingebrigtsen lives in the new District 9 but has announced he is not seeking re-election. Sen. Torrey Westrom, R-Elbow Lake, who currently represents District 12, also lives in the new District 9.
