Iowa Legislative and Congressional Map Analysis

On Thursday, September 16, the Legislative Services Agency (LSA) delivered its first Proposed Redistricting Plan Report, to the Iowa legislature. The U.S. Census Bureau determined the total resident population of Iowa as of April 1, 2020, was 3,190,369 persons. Based on this total population figure, the LSA determined the ideal population for Iowa’s congressional and state legislative districts:

Here is a high-level analysis of LSA’s first proposed Iowa congressional & legislative district maps.

Congressional

• Congresswoman Ashley Hinson, who now represents northeast Iowa from her home in Linn County, would run for re-election in a district that would serve southeast Iowa.
• Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks who currently serves southeast Iowa from her home in Ottumwa would run for reelection to serve in a district in northeast Iowa bordered by Minnesota and Wisconsin.
• Congresswoman Cindy Axne, who represents central and southwestern Iowa to the Nebraska border, would run again to serve Polk and Dallas counties along with counties in southern-central Iowa to the Missouri border.
• Congressman Randy Feenstra, now representing northwest Iowa, he would see a large geographic expansion of the district at the next election. The new district would include the most northwestern and southwestern counties in Iowa and in the north the district would run along the Minnesota border to within 60 miles of the Wisconsin border.

Legislative

• 43% of Iowa lawmakers are drawn into the same legislative districts under new maps.
• Of the 150 sitting members of the legislature, 54 are now in districts with fellow incumbents. 
• Of the 50 newly drawn Senate districts, 13 have no incumbent living within their boundaries.
• Of the 9 new freshman GOP House members, 6 are now in districts with fellow incumbents.

Maps

See full analysis of the legislative maps/new legislative districts in the corresponding charts below. These new maps reflect population changes from the latest census.

When the maps are finalized, expect to hear about elected officials moving out of their districts to run in districts without primaries against incumbents.  Also, the new maps will cause some incumbents to announce their retirement at the end of their term. These changes happen after every redistricting.