New Political Maps Signal Change, Impact 2022 Politics

Posted on February 17, 2022 by Libbie Chapuran

Minnesota’s new congressional and legislative district maps, which will govern for the next decade, were released yesterday.

The state's legislative and congressional districts are redrawn two years after every census to ensure each elected official represents an equal number of constituents. According to our state's constitution, the legislature is tasked with this duty.

However, a five-judge panel crafted the maps due to the split-party legislature's inability to agree on a redistricting plan. The panel took a "least change" approach, but many Minnesotans - and incumbent legislators - are finding themselves in new legislative districts due to population shifts.

Everyone is still sifting through the new map lines to determine what this will mean in November, but it does appear that there are several incumbent legislators paired in new districts. A few are matched with a member of the opposing party, but most matchups are from the same party.

There are some impactful pairings – both the Senate and House Minority Leaders are paired with a member of their party. Some matchups have already been decided because of previously-announced retirements or runs for higher office. There are many open seats created by the new maps, which may present opportunities for some legislators. These sands will continue to shift over the next few months as incumbents decide how to proceed. Some may move into an open district or opt to run for another office to avoid facing a colleague, which will impact the moves other sitting legislators and challengers make. There's no question that the turmoil over the new maps will affect the activity at the legislature this session.

While there is not yet an "official" list of incumbent pairings or open seats at this time, the following is our best information right now, but subject to change.

Senate

• Ruud vs Eichorn (Both R) 
• Ingebrigtsen vs Westrom (Both R, Ingebrigtsen Retiring)
• Gazelka vs Utke (Both R, Gazelka running for Governor)
• Kiffmeyer vs. Mathews (Both R)
• Nelson vs. Dornink (Both R)
• Rosen vs. Draheim (Both R)
• Abeler (R) vs Newton (D) (Newton Retiring)
• Lopez Franzen vs. Latz (Both D)
• Osmek (R) vs. Stewart-Johnson (D)
• Marty vs. Isaacson (Both D)
• Torres Ray vs. Fateh (Both D, Torres Ray retiring)

House

• Igo (R) vs. Sandstede (D)
• Bliss vs. Green (Both R)
• Lueck vs. Kresha (Both R)
• Rasmusson vs. Backer (Both R)
• Scott vs. Bahr (Both R)
• Daudt vs. Erickson (Both R)
• B Olson vs. Bennett (Both R)
• Pierson (R) vs. Liebling (D)
• Hertaus vs. Robbins (Both R)
• Feist vs. Bernardy (Both D)
• Carlson vs. Elkins (Both D)
• Winkler vs. Freiberg (Both D, Winkler running for HennCo Atty)
• Fischer vs. Lillie (Both D)
• Richardson vs. Reyer (Both D)
• Franke (R) vs. Hanson (D)
• Hornstein vs. Long (Both D)

For more information on the Congressional maps, see here. To see who represent you during the 2022 legislative session, visit our Action Center and enter your home address.