Northfield's Senate, House Districts Likely to Change Drastically

Because DFL Gov. Mark Dayton and Minnesota’s Republican-controlled legislature couldn't agree on how to redraw the state's new congressional and legislative district lines, a special election panel was assigned to do it.

The panel's recommendation will be released at 1 p.m. today, and will be based upon the 2010 Census results and will make each district relatively equal in population.

Around 1 p.m., the courts will release PDFs of the new districts, and Northfield Patch will post the results.

Northfield is in the Second Congressional District, as well as Senate District 25, with one precinct in Dakota County's Senate District 36.

Last year, a Republican plan to redraw lines would have drastically changed Northfield's Senate District, which is currently in an east-to-west district that includes Lonsdale and Belle Plaine, to a north-to-south district, which would have included part of Faribault and all of Owatonna. Northfield's precinct in Senate District 36 would have stayed separated from the rest of the city.

City and county redistricting follows the state's maps. Today is the last day for public comment concerning the city's redistrict, which the council must approve by April 13.

Be sure to follow Northfield Patch on Twitter and "Like" us on Facebook!