Redistricting

Legislation to rejigger the state’s redistricting system passed the state Senate last week. Stakes are high, as the state may lose a congressional seat after the 2010 U.S. Census, and whether it’s Michele Bachmann’s in the Sixth District or someone else’s will be decided during redistricting. But some people closest to the work of shaping Minnesota’s political boundaries last time around say the system worked pretty well.

Michele Bachmann might not return to Congress, if one of the scenarios at Swing State Project for redistricting Minnesota after the 2010 U.S. Census comes to pass.

Previously, I focused on the mechanics of congressional redistricting — how it’s done, when and what happened the last time around in 2002.  Moving inexorably toward the next round in 2010 to 2012, I spoke with Minnesota State Demographer Tom Gillaspy about his role in the process.

So is Minnesota going to lose a seat in [...]