It is widely reported that Bachmann is going to run in the Sixth District even though she now resides in the Fourth District. From our own Tony Petrangelo, the fourth district is only 1% less of a Democratic base, going from 64% to 63%. From Minnpost, you can visually the geography of blue DFL to red GOP patterns in the old and new Fourth District. The orange lines represent the new district. The new 4th CD now goes east to the state border and looks about twice the size. The Dakota county portion south of the river bend is no longer in the 4th CD. The dot is where I live!
Now Representative Betty McCollum does inherit the Stillwater bridge problem. The current rider to a US bill locks in a huge 94-like rebuild when the local highways are already at maximum capacity. The bridge would raise property taxes that locals do not want, plus adding burdensome traffic. It would also be the equivalent of bridge to nowhere since it would lead to a small town of about 400 residents. However the developers who bought property on the Wisconsin side really want a large bridge. It may be the ultimate bridge parking lot where one can park and look out over the river.
Senators Mary Jo McGuire of Falcon Heights, and Senator John Marty of Roseville are now matched up against each other. This has happened to Mary Jo McGuire before, where redistricting matches her with a DFL incumbent. Mindy Greling retired so Alice Hausman is unopposed in the new 66A. The SD53 in Woodbury is now a wide open senate seat. So while boundaries have changed, it does not look like the impact is huge. In fact, the Western area may be helped by being part of the 4th.
