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Redistricting plans: how they compare

By MinnPost staff | 10/21/11

Here's a look at how two proposed redistricting plans compare with Minnesota's current eight congressional districts. Here are the plan released today by the Citizens' Redistricting Commission and the plan drafted by the Republican-controlled Legislature that was vetoed earlier this year by Gov. Mark Dayton.

Current Minnesota congressional districts

2002 Minnesota congressional districts
commissions.leg.state.mn.us

Rejected plan drafted by the Republican-controlled Legislature

Rejected plan drafted by the Republican-controlled Legislature
www.gis.leg.mn

Redistricting plan proposed by the nonpartisan Citizens' Redistricting Commission

Redistricting plan proposed by the nonpartisan Citizens' Redistricting Commission
Source: The Citizens' Redistricting Commission

Related: Bachmann vs. Cravaack? Matchup could happen under citizens' redistricting plan

Comments (3)

Submitted by Rachel Kahler on October 21, 2011 - 2:43pm.

Thank you for this!

Submitted by linda higgins on October 21, 2011 - 7:47pm.

Do you have a link to the legislative districts as the commission draws them?

Submitted by Darryl Carter on October 23, 2011 - 4:48pm.

Both the Republicans' "Cook to Kittson" plan and the Citizens'Commission plans leave something to be desired.
The Commission's commendable concern, to unite all the Ojibway communities within a single Congressional District, is trumped, I think, by the gerrymandered 7th which results.
The philosophy, that "minority opportunity" districts must be cobbled together,for minority candidates to have a chance of being elected is belied, I think, by MN electoral experience. The most immediately relevant example, is this past week's special election victory for the State Senate,by Jeff Haydon. What is the minority population of that District ? Do others out there recall, that the State Senate once had a black Senator from St.Louis Park ? Speaking of St. Louis Park, what is the Jewish population of MN ? Compare that, with our having a defacto "Jewish seat" in the U.S. Senate, held now for 5 consecutive elections. Did either Cy Thao or Mee Moua emerge by way of majority-Hmong Districts ? "Minority opportunity" in MN, the evidence would seem to indicate, lies within the hearts of Minnesotans generally.
Other-than-ethnicity definitions of "community of interest" may be more relevant. The common interest between the St. Croix Valley, for example, and the City of Buffalo, is lost on me. That "wrap-around" design for a Congressional District should be retired.