Northwest Iowa — Every ten years the law requires that congressional district boundaries be redrawn to reflect shifts in population revealed by the latest census figures. In addition, state legislative boundaries and even city ward boundaries must be updated at the same time.
Earlier this month, the first redistricting plan produced by the non-partisan Legislative Services Agency was rejected by the Iowa Senate. So, the Legislative Services Agency went back to the drawing board and came up with a new proposal which the Iowa Legislature will vote on next Thursday in a special session.
The newest redistricting proposal would find some northwest Iowa incumbent legislator forced to face one another in a primary next year.
In House District 3, which, according to the latest proposal, would include the southern two-thirds of Sioux County, as well as most of northern Plymouth County. If the proposal is adopted by the state legislature, both Representative Skyler Wheeler of Orange City and Tom Jeneary of Le Mars would live in the same legislative district, which would require one of the two to not seek reelection, or would force them to face one another in a primary race for the District 3 seat. Below is the proposed redistricting map for Iowa House District 3.
The proposed House District 5 (shown on the map below) would still be comprised of O’Brien, Osceola Counties, as well as parts of Cherokee County and part of Buena Vista County. The proposed redistricting plan for House District 5 would not have two incumbents living in the same district.
The proposed new House District 4 (as show in the map below) would be comprised of northern Sioux County and all of Lyon County.
The Iowa Legislature will convene in special session this coming Thursday, October 28th to approve or reject the latest redistricting proposal.
