District Changes Point to Increased Urban Representation

Earlier this year, the Iowa Legislature adopted new maps for Iowa’s Congressional and Legislative districts in the state. While the major visible change is at the federal level, going from five to four Congressional districts, Iowa’s Legislature will have a far more urban complexion beginning in 2012.

The new Congressional District map printed here illustrates that the more rural districts (such as District 4 in northwest Iowa) have increased in the number of counties, while those districts that include urban areas have far fewer counties. Districts are drawn with the intent to equalize population without regard to political party. 

As a result of losing a district, three of Iowa’s five incumbent Congressmen have changed districts. Congressman Latham, previously representing north Central Iowa, will now run for the District 3 seat in southwest Iowa, facing Congressman Boswell, who formerly represented the area including Des Moines and counties east of Des Moines. District 3 still includes Des Moines.

Congressman Loebsack, who previously represented east central and some of southeast Iowa, has moved south to compete for the seat in District 2, encompassing all of southeast Iowa.

Districts 1 and 4 will be the areas that Congressman Braley and Congressman King, respectively, will work to continue to represent. Christie Vilsack has announced her intent to challenge Congressman King for the District 4 seat. 

The Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) held meetings in each of the new Congressional districts during August, inviting farmers to meet Congressional representatives new to them. In addition, Iowa legislators were invited to attend. More than 25 of them joined their Congressional counterparts in the opportunity to discuss issues with Iowa farmers. Legislative districts also change in this process, with many rural legislators increasing the number of counties they represent while urban areas gain in their number of seats. (See new legislative maps at www.legis.iowa.gov)

According to ISA President Dean Coleman from Humboldt, “It was made clear at our meeting farmers need to work hard in the 2012 session to gain benefits for rural areas before the urban voice strengthens following the November election. Farmers will need to step up to the plate and work much harder to have their voices heard in coming years.”