Redistricting map from the Legislative Services Agency.
Maps that reconfigure Iowa’s congressional and state legislative districts were released this morning, and if the Iowa legislature approves the plans, Republican Congressmen Tom Latham of Ames and Steve King of Kiron will be forced to run against one another in 2012, as will Democratic Congressmen Bruce Braley of Waterloo and Dave Loebsack of Mount Vernon.
Everyone at the state capitol is interested in the redistricting maps.
The two sets of congressmen could avoid head-to-head match-ups if they move to another county in another district.
Iowa lost one of its five congressional seats as a result of the 2010 Census, as there were greater population gains in other states.
Congressmen Leonard Boswell, a Democrat from Des Moines, could run alone in the plan’s third congressional district.
Former Iowa First Lady Christie Vilsack could run in a newly-drawn second congressional district in southeast Iowa, as it includes her hometown of Mount Pleasant.
The maps redrawing Iowa legislative and congressional districts were delivered to leaders in the legislature at 8:15 this morning and released to the public about 15 minutes later.
Under these plans, 27 incumbents in the Iowa House would be forced to run against another representative. House Republican Leader Linda Upmeyer is paired with two other legislators in one new district. In the state senate, 14 senators would have to run against another senator in 2012.
Staff in the non-partisan Legislative Services Agency drew the maps, as Iowa’s “reapportionment” process only allows the Iowa General Assembly to accept or reject the entire plan. Legislators themselves cannot propose changes. See the maps below.
PDF map of Congressional districts