I’ve done MN before, but with recent estimates indicating that we’ll probably stay at 8 seats, I decided to make a map operating on the assumption that Tarryl Clark beats Michelle Bachmann in the 6th this year. Most of the districts stay roughly the same, but the 6th, 2nd and 3rd get real facelifts. More below the fold:
Greater MN Districts:
District 1: Tim Walz (DFL) Blue
Walz’s district keeps Rochester but loses Mankato and extends north into the Dakota County Suburbs. He actually lives in Mankato, so this could be extended into blue earth county if needed to pick up his house, but the district works better this way.
District 2: John Kline(R) Green
Kline will have the honor of being MN’s only safe GOP representative. I took in the GOP heavy parts of the 3rd, 6th and 3nd and jammed them together. Obama probably got only 45% or so here.
blue 5th helps spread some of the DFL love around.
District 6: Hopefully Tarryl Clark (DFL) Blue-Green
If clark wins the 6th, we’d keep the St. Cloud part of the district, where she lives, and extend it around to include Washington county and more of Anoka County for a Suburban/exurban seat that should be a swing district of D+0 to R+2.
District 7: Collin Peterson (DFL) Gray
Peterson’s district added a bit considering its low population growth. It expanded to include some of the old 1st district and I had the 2nd take some of the more red parts of the old 7th, but the 8th took Beltrami county. Once Peterson retired this will lean red anyway, so it is how it is. He neither needs nor deserves protecting.
District 8: Jim Obrestar (DFL) Light Purple
The 8th essentially stays the same. It takes a little of the 7th to meet population.
Metro MN Districts:
District 3: Erik Paulson (R) Dark Purple
Paulson’s district gets significantly more blue with Eagan and Burnsvile added and western Hennepin county taken away. He’ll have a tough time surviving here.
District 4: Betty McCollum (DFL) Red
The 4th grows a bit, but stays the same.
District 5: Keith Ellison (DFL) Yellow
Loses the Anoka County parts and expands into Edina and more of Hennepin
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And that’s it! This should lead to a 7-1 map, at least until Peterson retires. Worst case scenario, DFL will always have 3 reps, and most likely 5, as I think Paulson will lose and Walz should hold that as should any Dem.
Input welcome!
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