It looks like Michele Bachmann's not going away any time soon. She already announced her plan to run for re-election in the Sixth District. Her chances of winning again there this year look better than ever--as a result of the court's congressional redistricting map, released today.
For years, people were hoping that court-ordered redistricting would eliminate Bachmann by changing the Republican dominance in Minnesota's Sixth Congressional District.
Not gonna happen. The courts published the new district maps today. The link is below.
There was speculation that Bachmann would lose the city of Stillwater (her original base of operation.) CORRECTION: She did...and that's bad good thing. Because even though there's a large Republican bloc in Stillwater, the town hasn't supported Bachmann for years.
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Another development: as result of the new map, Bachmann's personal residence is now in another district. That's going to be a factor if she sticks to her plan to run in the Sixth.
The bad thing is: the court has reshaped the Sixth District. It used to resemble "a great big hook," swinging around the northern exurbs to a point in Stillwater. As a result of the new map, it resembles "a huge claw clutching the Metro area." Bachmann picked up new territory southwest of the city (but she lost some territory in the northwest.)
"The district lost everything east of Ramsey and gained some crimson red territory in Carver county," adds the Minnesota Progressive Project's TonyAngelo.
Bottom line: it's a good day for Michele Bachmann and her reelection chances--if she decides to run (for the third time) in Minnesota's Sixth District.
(I'm sorry the diary is so short, but this "breaking." There's sure to be deeper analysis of this in the weeks to come.)
LINK: If you want to see the new congressonal maps, go to this site:
http://www.mncourts.gov/...
...and then look at these .pdf files of the old and new maps.
Final Order Adopting A Congressional Redistricting Plan (pdf) 2/21/12
Appendix A: Congressional Maps
Minnesota Congressional Districts - Statewide (pdf)
Minnesota Congressional Districts - 2012 and 2002 Comparison (pdf)