The redistricting panel tasked with setting the boundaries for Minnesota's congressional and legislative districts finally issues their decision.
Statewide, the big news is that Michele Bachmann no longer lives in her district, though she has vowed to run for re-election in Minnesota's Sixth.
Congressman Tim Walz' 1st Congressional District has a slightly different shape.
Pipestone, Murray and half of Cottonwood Counties in the west, are no longer in Walz's district. Neither is Wabasha County in the East.
Meanwhile, he's added Le Sueur and half of Rice Counties to the First as a result of redistricting.
Rep. Tim Walz says, "I'm excited. There's some new neighbors a little closer to home that I think there's a lot in common. I think the judges should be congratulated on doing a nice, fair job of giving people a voice, so I'm looking forward to getting over to Le Sueur and having that in the 1st district and over into Faribault."
The Congressional map remains mostly intact, but the map for local lawmakers in our area will see a big shake up.
Four area Republicans vie for just two seats in the Legislature. 21B's Paul Torkelson and 24B's Tony Cornish are now both located in District 23B.
In the Senate, District 24's Julie Rosen now shares a constituency with District 25's Al DeKruif.
Those legislators were at work in St. Paul when the news broke, so the details remain up in the air.
But one of them says he'll be running again in 2012 regardless.
Rep. Tony Cornish (R - Good Thunder) says, "I like my job. I plan on staying here. I like being chairman. No matter what happens, I'm pretty sure I'm running again, no matter who it's against."
Should be interesting.
