Iowa Legislature approves new districts

Just over three weeks after rejecting the first round of maps proposed by the Legislative Services Agency (LSA,) both chambers of Iowa’s state Legislature approved the maps’ second draft Thursday in near-unanimous votes.

“This chamber requested LSA to improve upon the initial plan by addressing concerns of compactness and population deviation,” said Sen. Roby Smith, one of the first maps’ most vocal critics. “LSA did not address every concern raised with the initial plan. However, the overall improvements … seen in plan two align with the standards set in the state constitution.”

Republicans said the approval rebuked concerns that they sought to control the redistricting process.

“While I recommend map two and I think map two will become law, going to map three was not going to be gerrymandering,” Cedar County Rep. Bobby Kaufmann (R) said. “I saw that narrative bought into by many of those in the media and pushed by many people in the Democratic Party as if it were somehow fact. I’m just thrilled today to stand before all of you and show just how wrong they all were.”

The maps will have a number of impacts on Southeast Iowa’s state and federal representation.

The biggest headline-grabber is the new congressional districts. By ceding Wapello County to the state’s southwestern congressional district, the maps leave Rep. Cindy Axne and Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks competing for the same congressional seat, and leaving southeast Iowa without an incumbent.

The changes will also affect state legislative officials. Maharishi Vedic City, Mt. Pleasant, and most of Fairfield are in the same state House district, for example, in a district that will put State Rep. Jeff Shipley of Birmingham in competition with fellow Republican Rep. Joe Mitchell, who lives in Mt. Pleasant.

It also changes up the districts for Rep. Jarad Klein and Sen. Kevin Kinney. While both would continue to represent Washington County and a sizable portion of Johnson, their districts swap Keokuk out for Iowa County under the new maps.

“I hate losing Keokuk County because I think I’ve made inroads down there,” said Kinney, who lives in Oxford. “But I live up here on the Iowa-Johnson County line and I have a farm in Iowa County, so I know a lot of the people up here. Whether that’s good or bad, I don’t know.”

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com