Residents of Rock County and southwestern Minnesota have learned the maps of new legislative districts in the State Legislature.
The new districts become effective in January 2023 following the November general election which includes both House and Senate candidates.
A panel of five state judges released redistricting lines for the Minnesota Legislature on Feb. 15. The changes are necessary due to population changes recorded from the 2020 census.
State Senate
Rock County is part of the current Senate District 22, which will be known as Senate District 21.
The new Senate district will no longer include the counties of Lyon and Redwood, but it gained the east half of Jackson County, the west half of Watonwan County (including the city of St. James), and four townships and two cities in the northwest part of Martin County.
Sen. Bill Weber (R-Luverne) currently represents Rock County and District 22 in the Minnesota Senate.
State House
Rock County is part of the current House District 22A, which is comprised of communities in Lincoln, Lyon, Pipestone, Murray, Nobles, and Rock counties.
The current House District 22A largely becomes the new House District 21A. It will now be comprised of Rock, Pipestone, Lincoln, and Murray counties in their entirety.
All of Lyon County will now become part of a new House District 15A.
The new House District 21A also includes the western portion of Nobles County, including the cities of Adrian, Ellsworth, Lismore, and Wilmont, along with the neighboring townships.
A significant portion of Cottonwood County will also be added to the new House District 21A, including the cities of Jeffers, Storden, and Westbrook.
Rep. Joe Schomacker (R-Luverne) currently represents Rock County and District 22A in the Minnesota House of Representatives.
"With population gain in the Twin Cities, I was worried that we would lose border-city and border-county seats in the adjustment,” Schomacker said. "I am thankful to see that in southwestern Minnesota that is not the case."
Congressional District 1
Rock County is part of Minnesota’s First Congressional District, which extends across southern Minnesota from Rock County to Houston County.
Minnesota’s First Congressional District gained Goodhue and Wabasha Counties, which were formerly part of the Second District, but lost Le Sueur County to the Second District.
The First District also lost a section of land on its northwestern edge (to the north and east of Windom) which was added to the Seventh District.
The late Congressman Jim Hagedorn had represented District 1 in the U.S. House until Feb. 17 when he died of cancer at age 59.
A special election Aug. 9 will determine who will fill out the remaining term, set to expire in 2023.
The winner of the November general election will serve a two-year term beginning in January 2023.
More information is available on the Minnesota Secretary of State website, sos.state.mn.us