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Minnesota lawmakers sort options after redistricting

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Feb 22, 2012 at 4:42 pm

ST. PAUL, Minn. (KNSI, AP) - Minnesota state lawmakers are just starting to sort through options after the release this week of new state political boundaries.

The redistricting maps released by a court panel Tuesday paired up 48 House and Senate incumbents. Those lawmakers are now deciding if they will run against a fellow incumbent, move to a new district or retire from the Legislature.

Minnesota Public Radio News reports Thursday (http://bit.ly/yUsiNN) that a few lawmakers are facing off. In southwest Minneapolis, Democratic representatives Frank Hornstein and Marion Greene say they'll run against each other in a primary. Greene says they're friends but neither wants to quit.

In the Bemidji area, Republican Rep. Larry Howes and DFL Rep. John Persell will face off.

A number of other paired lawmakers say they are still considering their options.

After the week of anxiety and a light day of sessions Tuesday awaiting the redistricting maps, legislators began getting back to lawmaking Wednesday and Thursday.

KNSI's Dan "The Ox" Ochsner spoke with several Minnesota legislators Thursday morning during a special edition of "Hot Talk with the Ox."