Central Minnesota Voting Districts Change Little After Lines Redrawn

(KNSI) – Some residents in central Minnesota will be voting for new representatives after the state released its redrawn voting districts. The district were redrawn by a court-appointed committee.

Minnesota’s 6th Congressional District in Stearns County lost the cities of Avon, Cold Spring, Richmond, Kimball, and Holdingford. Congressman Tom Emmer represents the district. The cities are now in Minnesota’s 7th Congressional District, represented by Michelle Fischbach. The 7th District also gained all of Morrison County, previously part of the 8th Congressional District.

St. Cloud, Sartell, Sauk Rapids, Waite Park, St. Joseph, Rockville, and St. Augusta will remain in the 6th Congressional District, as will all of Benton, Sherburne, and Wright County. The 6th district lost territory because the district’s population centers, like the St. Cloud area, grew. According to the redistricting data, 104,017 people in Stearns County live in the 6th District, and 54,275 live in the 7th District.

Minnesota and the rest of the states redraws the lines for the voting districts every ten years based on the most recent census. The districts are based on the 2020 population census, with each congressional district representing around 713,300 people in Minnesota.

The lines for the Minnesota Legislatures Districts were redrawn as well however, there won’t be any changes to the district representatives in the St. Cloud area. St. Cloud remains in Senate District 14. Minnesota House District 14A will include south St. Cloud, Waite Park, and St. Augusta. District 14B will consist of north and east St. Cloud and

The most significant change to the legislative maps in central Minnesota was having most of Benton County, including Foley, Rice, and Gilman go to District 10B. The area was part of 15B.

State lawmakers from the region include District 14 Senator Aric Putnam, District 13 Senator Jeff Howe and District 15 Senator Andrew Mathews, 15B Representative Shane Mekeland, 15A Representative Sondra Erickson, 14A Representative Tama Theis, 14B Representative Dan Wolgamott, 13A Representative Lisa Demuth and 13B Representative Tim O’Driscoll.

See the changes to the map by clicking here.

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