×

New District Maps will Likely Affect Voters in the Lakes Area

By Dave Bishop Aug 25, 2021 | 11:09 AM

Capitol Building St Paul Minnesota

DETROIT LAKES (KDLM) – Redistricting in Minnesota will likely affect those living in the Lakes Area.

The House committee has started reviewing Census data that shows that Minnesota has grown by over 400,000 people over the last decade mostly in the urban centers of Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Senator Kent Eken who represents District 4 which includes Detroit Lakes and Moorhead says the census data shows that rural Minnesota is losing residents, that means districts in Greater Minnesota will likely get larger and districts representing metro area will get smaller. “District lines ensures that each district has about the same number of people – so that one person one vote principle is adhered to.”

The State House and Senate will need to decide on the new district lines, but Eken says that’s not likely because Minnesota has a divided House and Senate and a group of Judges will be tasked with drawing new district maps, “The chances of getting an agreement are very slim. I actually think it’s better the courts decide, because they don’t have a vested interest in the outcome. We should not be choosing our constituents, our constituents should be choosing us”

Lawsuits have already been filed in anticipation that lawmakers won’t be able to agree on new maps. Nonetheless, the Redistricting Committee hopes to have at least a preliminary map ready by mid-December.

U.S. troops and civilian killed in Syria ambush
Two U.S. service members and one American civilian have been killed and three other people wounded in an ambush by the Islamic State group in central Syria, the U.S. Central Command said.
The Associated Press 56m ago
Loons fill Maine lakes with ghost-like calls
Maine's loons are on the mend, filling more of the lakes and ponds in the state with their haunting calls. Maine is home to a few thousand of the large waterbirds, and conservationists say efforts to protect them from threats have helped grow the pop...
The Associated Press 2h ago
Some Native Americans draw shocked response over contract to design immigration detention centers
The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation that was uprooted from the Great Lakes region in the 1830s is facing widespread outrage over plans to profit from another forced removal
ABC News: US 1h ago
Johnson unveils health plan as GOP divisions persist
The Senate failed to get anywhere on health care this week. Now it's the House's turn. Speaker Mike Johnson late Friday released a package of proposal to address growing health care costs.
The Associated Press 3h ago
See More

FOLLOW US FOR INSTANT UPDATES!

FOLLOW US FOR INSTANT UPDATES!