(Radio Iowa) – The proposed plan for reconfiguring Iowa’s legislative districts pairs up dozens of lawmakers . The non-partisan Iowa Legislative Services Agency released what’s called redistricting “Plan 1” Thursday. It appears as many as 61 current members of the Iowa General Assembly live in a proposed district where at least one other legislator lives. An initial count indicates 24 senators would have to decide whether to move, retire or run against another senator and 37 state representatives would face same predicament. That is, if the redistricting plan is approved.
As reported Thursday, the proposed congressional maps show a sprawling, 44-county fourth district. The third district includes the Des Moines metro and fans out into a triangle, with 7 counties on the Iowa/Missouri border. The second district goes from northeast Iowa, curves around to include Ames and stretches down to Ottumwa and Fairfield. The first congressional district would be the smallest, geographically, including the cities of Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Davenport, Burlington and Fort Madison.
None of the four Iowans who currently represent the state in the U.S. House would have to move, as none are paired up in one of the proposed districts.