Hutchinson will have a new state representative and senator next year.
According to the state legislative district map released by the Minnesota Judicial Branch last week, which will be used for the next 10 years starting with the November elections for terms beginning in 2023, Hutchinson will no longer be split into two House districts, currently 18A and 18B. Instead, Hutchinson falls within the new District 17A, along with most of McLeod County, as well as a portion of Meeker, Wright and Sibley counties.
Rep. Dean Urdahl represents what is currently 18A, while Rep. Glenn Gruenhagen represents what is currently 18B. However, the new map shows Urdahl’s residence in Acton Township will fall in what will be District 16A. Gruenhagen lives south of Glencoe, just over the Sibley County line, in what will become District 17B.
The new district map is part of the state’s decennial redistricting process, which uses census data to draw new political borders. This process is left to lawmakers to complete, but with a split Legislature (Republicans control the Senate, Democrats control the House), no map was approved by the Feb. 15 deadline. That meant it came down to a five-judge panel to create the map.
In statements released by the Minnesota GOP and DFL parties, they praised the work of the redistricting panel and said it would take time to analyze the new map.
The Leader reached out to Urdahl and Gruenhagen, who declined to comment on changes to their districts, but Urdahl did announce he will run for reelection in his new district, which includes Litchfield and the western portion of Meeker County.
With both Gruenhagen and Urdahl no longer eligible to represent District 17A in the House, Hutchinson will have a new representative in 2023. On Friday, Dawn Gillman of Dassel announced she plans to run for the open seat as a Republican. Jennifer Carpentier of Hutchinson also announced during the Democratic caucus in early February that she plans to run for the seat.
The two-week filing period for candidates to officially submit affidavits is May 17-31. The primary election is Aug. 9, and election day is Nov. 8.
Sen. Scott Newman of Hutchinson also shook things up Monday when he announced his plans to retire from the state Senate at the end of the year. District 17 includes all of McLeod County, as well as portions of Meeker, Sibley, Wright and Carver counties. Newman’s announcement opens the door for a new Senate candidate to take his place.
As for U.S. Congressional districts, all of Meeker and McLeod counties will remain in Minnesota’s Seventh Congressional District, which is currently represented by Rep. Michelle Fischbach, who announced her plans to run for reelection.
