State’s new political lines about to be set

Published 11:02 am Tuesday, February 21, 2012

ST. PAUL — A Minnesota court panel is releasing plans for new congressional and legislative districts that will set the boundaries in the fight for political control of the state for the next decade.

The panel appointed by the state’s Supreme Court chief justice is set to make the plans public at 1 p.m. on Tuesday. The court took over the once-per-decade redistricting process after Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton and the Republican-controlled Legislature failed to agree on new political maps.

Redistricting is conducted once every 10 years to reflect population shifts within congressional and legislative districts. It’s an anxious process for state lawmakers and members of Congress, who often end up in new districts away from traditional bases of support, or in the same district as a fellow incumbent.

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Look to www.austindailyherald.com for more information as the maps are released today