Inver Grove Heights Becomes Part of District 2

The new Congressional district lines, released at 1 p.m. by a special judicial panel, place all of Inver Grove Heights, as well as Mendota, South St. Paul and West St. Paul, in District 2.

All of Dakota County will now be part of Minnesota's second Congressional district, currently represented by Lakeville Republican John Kline. Previously, the metropolitan areas of Dakota County bordering St. Paul were part of District 4, represented by Democrat Betty McCollum.

The new Congressional district that would have pit former presidential candidate Michelle Bachmann (R) and Rep. Betty McCollum (D) against each other is sure to draw wider attention, though Bachmann announced today that she will run in her old District 6 (representatives are not required to live in their own districts).

In Inver Grove, State Senator Jim Metzen said his political life will not change. He was looking at “little dinky maps” today, but said the changes are mostly around the margins “I believe it’s almost identical, until I get some street maps. I’ve got all of Inver Grove, half of South St. Paul, all of West St. Paul, all of Mendota Heights, and one precinct of Eagan.”

The biggest Change for Metzen is that his district’s number will change from 39 to 52. “I’ll have to adjust all my campaign signs,” he quipped.

State Rep. Joe Atkins (D) could not be reached for comment. 

The new maps can be found here.