A Look At The Second Redistricting Map

DES MOINES, Iowa – The Legislative Services Agency (LSA) released the second redistricting plan on Tuesday with maps for newly drawn Congressional, Iowa Senate, and Iowa House districts. The Iowa Senate rejected the first map stating LSA could improve several districts’ compactness and population deviation. 

“I appreciate the work LSA has done to quickly attempt to address the concerns the Senate expressed with Plan One. Plan Two is a regular part of the process outlined in Iowa law. I look forward to reviewing the map and its adherence to the criteria established in Iowa law,” Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver, R-Ankeny, said in a released statement after the second redistricting plan was released.

The Iowa Legislature will gavel in for a second special session on Thursday, October 28, 2021. State law requires the Legislature to wait at least seven days before voting on the second map.

Unlike the first map, public hearings are not required for the second redistricting map. 

There has to be population equity. Iowa’s population, according to the 2020 Census, is 3,190,369 people. The Iowa Code provides that each congressional district must have a population as nearly equal as practicable to the ideal population (the total population of the state as reported in the decennial census divided by, in Iowa’s case, four congressional districts that are to be created. That number is 797,592 people.). Newly drawn congressional districts can’t vary by more than one percent of the ideal population.

The ideal population for each of Iowa’s 50 Senate districts is 63,807 persons and for each of Iowa’s House districts is 31,904 persons. Districts are not to supposed to deviate by more than one percent of the ideal population. According to Iowa law, the Iowa Legislature has the burden of proof to justify any district that varies from the ideal population for that district by more than one percent.

Redistricting by Iowa Code and Constitution is supposed to respect political subdivision. For instance, Article III, Section 37 of the Iowa Constitution states, “…no county shall be divided in forming a congressional district.”

With Iowa Senate and House districts, it is more complicated. The number of cities and counties divided among more than one Senate or House district shall be as small as possible. When there is a choice between dividing local political subdivisions, the more populous subdivisions shall be divided before the less populated except for when a county line divides a city.

The Iowa Constitution and Iowa Code require districts to be contiguous territory. No part of a district can be entirely separated from another part of a district. Districts should be reasonably compact and not irregularly shaped to the extent permitted by natural or political boundaries.

Also, Iowa law prohibits districts from being drawn to favor a political party, an incumbent legislator or member of Congress, or other person or group, or to augment or dilute the voting strength of a language or racial minority group. LSA is prohibited by law from using the addresses of incumbent legislators or members of Congress, political affiliations of registered voters, and previous election results.

Congressional District Map:

Unlike the first map, two incumbents are placed in the same district. Democratic Congresswoman Cindy Axne of West Des Moines and Republican Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Ottumwa reside in the newly drawn Iowa 3rd Congressional District. Republican Congresswoman Ashley Hinson of Marion lives in the newly drawn Iowa 2nd Congressional District. Republican Congressman Randy Feenstra of Hull remains in the Iowa 4th Congressional District. 

Here is the proposed map:

Here is the current map for comparison:

Iowa 1st Congressional District

The newly drawn Iowa 1st Congressional District is located in southeast Iowa, where the current 2nd District is located. No incumbent resides in the district, so it would be an open seat if this map is passed. State Rep. Christina Bohannan, D-Iowa City, who is running for Congress, resides in the district. 

The newly drawn district has 20 counties with a population of 797,584. It has 165,990 registered Democrat voters and 150,439 registered Republican voters, giving Democrats a 15,551 registered voter advantage, slightly more than the 12,783 voter registration advantage Democrats hold in the current 2nd Congressional District, with 24 counties, where much of the new district is located. In addition, with 147,261 registered independent voters, the district should remain competitive.

Iowa 2nd Congressional District

The newly drawn 2nd Congressional District is located in northeast Iowa, where the current 1st Congressional District is located. The new district has 22 counties compared to 20 counties in the current 1st District. It has a population of 797,589. 

Under the proposed map, the district has 163,045 registered Democrat voters and 153,665 registered Republican voters, giving Democrats a 9,380 registered voter advantage. The current 1st Congressional District gives Democrats a 14,220 voter registration edge. 

The new map would keep the match-up between Hinson and State Senator Liz Mathis, D-Hiawatha, with a smaller voter registration deficit for Hinson. There are also almost as many independent voters in the district as Republicans, with 153,173.

Iowa 3rd Congressional District

Iowa’s 3rd Congressional District, instead of inhabiting the southwest quadrant of the state under the new map, will reside in southcentral Iowa. It grew from 16 counties to 21 counties with a population of 797,551. A congressional district already dominated by the Des Moines Metro will see Polk County make an even more significant impact since the district no longer contains Council Bluffs.

Currently, Democrats enjoy a slight voter registration advantage having 3,418 more registered voters than Republicans. Under the proposed map, that increases to 10,588 with 165,903 Democrats and 155,315 Republicans. However, with 132,390 independent voters, it will remain competitive.

Should this map be approved, having Axne and Miller-Meeks in the same district will shake the Iowa 3rd Congressional District race up. State Senator Zach Nunn, R-Bondurant, and Republican Nicole Hasso of Johnston, both declared Republican candidates, still live in the district. Former State Rep. Mary Ann Hanusa, R-Council Bluffs, does not. 

Iowa 4th Congressional District

The second map shrinks Iowa’s 4th Congressional District from 39 to 36 counties, unlike the first map. It has a population of 797,645. 

The district will also remain a Republican stronghold. Currently, Republicans enjoy an 81,770 registered voter advantage with 194,234 registered voters compared to the Democrats’ 112,464. Under the proposed map, Republicans expand that advantage slightly to 84,747 registered voters with 201,280 registered voters compared to 116,533 registered voters for the Democrats. There are also more independent voters than Democrats – 128,280.

Feenstra can expect to win re-election and will have a slightly smaller district to travel if this map is approved.

Iowa Senate

Here is the proposed Iowa Senate district map:

Below is the current Iowa Senate district map for comparison:

Senate district in urban areas became smaller and more densely populated. For example, Polk County, which contains most of the Des Moines Metro, saw two additional complete districts residing with the county.

Using legislators’ home addresses found either on the legislature’s website or campaign documentation located at data.iowa.gov, the Iowa Torch found twenty incumbents, 40 percent of the chamber, were placed in districts with another incumbent. The first map had 22 incumbents in the same district as another incumbent. There are five Republican vs. Republican match-ups, two Democrat vs. Democrat match-ups (though State Senator Liz Mathis, D-Hiawatha, who is running for Congress, will likely pull out of the Iowa Senate District 40 Democratic primary). There are three Republican vs. Democrat match-ups. There are ten open seats.

The list of districts with incumbents is below with the senators’ current senate district in parenthesis:

1. Jackie Smith, D-Sioux City (7)
2. Jeff Taylor, R-Sioux Center (2) 
3. Open
4. Tim Kraayenbrink, R-Ft. Dodge (5) & Jesse Green, R-Harcourt (24)
5. Zach Whiting, R-Spirit Lake (1), 
6. Craig Williams, R-Manning (6) & Jason Schultz, R-Schleswig (9)
7. Jim Carlin, R-Sioux City (3)
8. Mark Costello, R-Imogene (12)
9. Tom Shipley, R-Nodaway (11)
10. Dan Dawson, R-Council Bluffs (8)
11. Julian Garrett, R-Indianola (13)
12. Amy Sinclair, R-Allerton (14)
13. Open
14. Jake Chapman, R-Adel (10)
15. Tony Bisignano, D-Des Moines (17)
16. Claire Celsi, D-West Des Moines (21) & Sarah Trone Garriott, D-Windsor Heights (22)
17. Open
18. Janet Petersen, D-Des Moines (18)
19. Open
20. Nate Boulton, D-Des Moines (16)
21. Jack Whitver, R-Ankeny (19)
22. Brad Zaun, R-Urbandale (20)
23. Zach Nunn, R-Bondurant (15)
24. Open
25. Herman Quirmbach, D-Ames (23)
26. Jeff Elder, R-State Center (36)
27. Annette Sweeney, R-Alden (25)
28. Dennis Guth, R-Klemme (4)
29. Open
30. Waylon Brown, R-Osage (26) & Amanda Ragan, D-Mason City (27)
31. William Dotzler, D-Waterloo (31)
32. Mike Klimesh, R-Spillville (28)
33. Carrie Koelker, R-Dyersville (29)
34. Craig Johnson, R-Independence (32) & Dan Zumbach, R-Ryan (48)
35. Chris Cournoyer, R-Leclaire (49)
36. Pam Jochum, D-Dubuque (50)
37. Open
38. Eric Giddens, D-Cedar Falls (30)
39. Robert Hogg, D-Cedar Rapids (33) (not running)
40. Liz Mathis, D-Hiawatha (34) – running for Congress & Todd Taylor, D-Cedar Rapids (35)
41. Jim Lykam, D-Davenport (45) & Roby Smith, R-Davenport (47)
42. Open
43. Zach Wahls, D-Coralville (37)
44. Ken Rozenboom, R-Oskaloosa (40) & Adrian Dickey, R-Packwood (41)
45. Joe Bolkcom, R-Iowa City (43)
46. Dawn Driscoll, R-Williamsburg (38) & Kevin Kinney, D-Oxford (39)
47. Open
48. Mark Lofgren, R-Muscatine (46)
49. Open
50. Jeff Reichman, R-Montrose (42) & Tim Goodwin, R-Burlington (44)

Iowa House

Here is the proposed Iowa House District map:

Here is the current Iowa House District map for comparison:

All members of the Iowa House are up for re-election every two years. The Iowa Torch found that 37 out of the 100 incumbents were placed in districts with other incumbents. Thirteen districts will see Republican incumbents face off in a primary. Five districts will have a potential Democrat primary between incumbents (however, in House District 61, State Rep. Ras Smith is running for governor. Unless he drops out of that race, he will not be running for the Iowa House). One district could see an incumbent Democrat and incumbent Republican face off in the general election. There are 19 open seats.

The list of districts with incumbents is below with the representatives’ current House district in parenthesis:

1. Chris Hall, D-Sioux City (13)
2. Steven Hansen, D-Sioux City (14)
3. Skyler Wheeler, R-Orange City (4) & Tom Jeneary, R-LeMars (5)
4. Open
5. Open
6. Megan Jones, R-Sioux Rapids (2) & Gary Worthan, R-Storm Lake (11)
7. Mike Sexton, R-Rockwell City (10)
8. Ann Meyer, R-Ft. Dodge (9)
9. Henry Stone, R-Forest City (7)
10. John Wills, R-Spirit Lake (1)
11. Brian Best, R-Glidden (12)
12. Steven Holt, R-Denison (18)
13. Dennis Bush, R-Cleghorn (3)
14. Jacob Bossman, R-Sioux City (6)
15. Matt Windschitl, R-Missouri Valle (17)
16. David Sieck, R-Griswold (23)
17. Cecil Dolecheck, R-Mount Ayr (24)
18. Thomas Jay Moore, R-Griswold (21)
19. Brent Siegrist, R-Council Bluffs (16) & Jon Jacobsen, R-Council Bluffs, (22)
20. Charlie McConkey, D-Council Bluffs (15)
21. Brooke Boden, R-Indianola, (26) & Jon Thorup, R-Knoxville, (28)
22. Open
23. Ray Sorenson, R-Greenfield, (20) & Stan Gustafson, R-Cumming, (25)
24. Joel Fry, R-Osceola (27)
25. Cherielynn Westrich, R-Ottumwa (81)
26. Open
27. Kenan Judge, D-Waukee (44)
28. Carter Nordman, R-Adel (19)
29. Brian Meyer, D-Des Moines (33)
30. Bruce Hunter, D-Des Moines (34)
31. Kristin Sunde, D-West Des Moines (42)
32. Jennifer Konfrst, D-Windsor Heights (43)
33. Ruth Ann Gaines, D-Des Moines (32)
34. Ako Abdul-Samad, D-Des Moines (35) & Marti Anderson, D-Des Moines (36)
35. Open
36. Jo Oldson, D-Des Moines (41)
37. Open
38. Jon Dunwell, R-Newton (29)
39. Rick Olson, D-Des Moines (31)
40. Open
41. Open
42. Mike Bousselot, R-Ankeny (37) & Garrett Gobble, R-Ankeny (38)
43. Eddie Andrews, R-Johnson (39)
44. John Forbes, D-Urbandale (40)
45. Brian Lohse, R-Bondurant (30)
46. Open
47. Phil Thompson, R-Jefferson (47)
48. Rob Bacon, R-Slater (48)
49. Beth Wessel-Kroeschell, D-Ames (45)
50. Ross Wilburn, D-Ames (46)
51. Dave Deyoe, R-Nevada (49)
52. Sue Cahill, D-Marshalltown (71)
53. Dean Fisher, R-Montour (72) & David Maxwell, R-Gibson (76)
54. Open
55. Shannon Latham, R-Sheffield (54)
56. Terry Baxter, R-Garner (8)
57. Pat Grassley, R-New Hartford (50)
58. Todd Prichard, D-Charles City (52)
59. Sharon Steckman, D-Mason City (53)
60. Jane Bloomingdale, R-Northwood (51)
61. Timi Brown-Powers, D-Waterloo (61) & RasTafari Smith, D-Waterloo (62) (Gov)
62. Open
63. Michael Bergan, R-Dorchester (55)
64. Anne Osmundson, R-Volga (56)
65. Shannon Lundgren, R-Peosta (57)
66. Steven Bradley, R-Cascade (58) & Lee Hein, R-Monticello (96)
67. Open
68. Sandy Salmon, R-Janesville (63) & Chad Ingels, R-Randalia (64)
69. Mary Lynn Wolfe, D-Clinton (98)
70. Norlin Mommsen, R-DeWitt (97)
71. Lindsay James, D-Dubuque (99) & Charles Isenhart, D-Dubuque (100)
72. Open
73. Open
74. Eric Gjerde, D-Cedar Rapids (67) & Molly Donahue, D-Cedar Rapids (68)
75. Bob Kressig, D-Cedar Falls (59)
76. Dave Williams, D-Cedar Falls (60)
77. Kirsten Running-Marquardt, D-Cedar Rapids (69)
78. Liz Bennett, D-Cedar Rapids (65) – running for Iowa Senate
79. Tracy Ehlert, D-Cedar Rapids (70)
80. Art Staed, D-Cedar Rapids (66)
81. Open
82. Bobby Kaufmann, R-Wilton (73) & Ross Paustian, R-Walcott (92)
83. Charlie McClintock, R-Alburnett (95)
84. Thomas Gerhold, R-Atkins (75)
85. Amy Nielsen, D-North Liberty (77)
86. Dave Jacoby, D-Coralville (74)
87. Jeff Shipley, R-Birmingham (82) & Joe Mitchell, R-Mt. Pleasant (84)
88. Dustin Hite, R-New Sharon (79) & Holly Brink, R-Oskaloosa (80)
89. Mary Mascher, D-Iowa City (86)
90. Christina Bohannan, D-Iowa City (85) – running for Congress
91. Open
92. Jarad Klein, R-Keota (78)
93. Gary Mohr, R-Bettendorf (94)
94. Phyllis Thede, D-Bettendorf (93)
95. Dennis Cohoon, D-Burlington (87), David Kerr, R-Morning Sun (88), & Mark Cisneros, R-Muscatine (91)
96. Open
97. Open
98. Monica Kurth, D-Davenport (89) & Cindy Winckler, D-Davenport (90)
99. Open
100. Martin Graber, R-Ft. Madison (83)

Conclusion:

With the second plan, the Iowa Legislature can only make corrective amendments, and then they have to vote the plan up or down. Some lawmakers will likely be concerned by the number of incumbents pitted against one another, but there is slightly less of that than the first map. Of course, there will always be fratricide; it is unavoidable.

If they vote against the second plan, LSA will submit a third plan, following the reasons the second plan was disapproved, within 35 days of the second plan being disapproved, and the process is the same except no public hearings are held. With the third plan, the Iowa Legislature can offer amendments as with any other bill. Only once, after the 1980 census, did the Iowa Legislature require the third map.

If the Iowa Legislature approves the second plan and Gov. Kim Reynolds signs (by law, the governor can only veto for reasons, not in conflict with redistricting standards provided in the Iowa Code). In that case, the process is over unless an application for review is filed with the Iowa Supreme Court by any qualified voter.