ST. PAUL – State Rep. Lisa Demuth, R-Cold Spring, and residents throughout Minnesota have learned the maps of new legislative districts that will take effect next year.
Because shifts in population around the state are not uniform, some districts will shrink, and others will expand. Demuth has represented District 13A during her first two terms in office. She said the new district in which she resides still will be labeled 13A, with added square mileage to reach the target constituency total.
“The southern border still runs through Eden Valley and Watkins before dipping below Kimball over toward Clearwater,” Demuth said. “However, the new borders to the north and west are expanded, adding the city of Albany and the townships of Avon, Farming and Krain. Zion Township and a portion of St. Joseph are ceded.”
Minnesota’s Constitution requires redistricting to happen once per decade to accommodate for changes in the state’s population and to keep constituencies relatively even across districts. A special panel of five state judges recently released its plan for the Minnesota Legislature.
The 2020 census indicates Minnesota’s population is 5,706,494. That translates to a baseline constituency of 85,172 for the state’s 67 Senate districts and half that (42,586) for its 134 House districts.
“The thing I want to underscore is these new districts won’t take effect until next year,” Demuth said. “My focus will remain on doing my very best to represent the people of our current District 13A. The new legislative map changes nothing in terms of how I conduct my day-to-day business to help the people I represent.”
-30-