Redistricting 101
Iowa and 2012: Since the redistricting map was approved by the Iowa Legislature earlier this year many conversations have occurred about which elected officials are moving, announcing, and retiring. A new map is drawn every ten years, after the completion of the census. The races are a lot to keep up to date with in a normal year, but with this new map there is a lot more activity.
Here is the basic news from the new map:
Iowa House: All 100 seats are up for election every two years.
Iowa Senate: All even number seats are up for election AND any odd number seat where there are two incumbents in the same party and OR when there is not an incumbent currently living in the borders of the district (aka. an open seat).
United States House of Representatives: Iowa goes from five representatives to four.
United States Senate: Iowa has two Senators, each state ALWAYS has two.
Iowa State Senators must file their Declaration of Residence with the Iowa Secretary of State by Friday, February 1, 2012. All candidates running for the Iowa House or Iowa Senate must file their nomination petitions and affidavit of candidacy to have their name on the ballot between the qualifying dates of February 27, 2012 and March 16, 2012; see the guide here.
A few notable examples of the complexity in the Iowa Senate are listed below. There is a nice demonstration done by the Secretary of State, which is found here, as well.
SD26: Senator Merlin Bartz and Senator Mary Jo Wilhelm were drawn into the same district. It is an even number seat, and both are incumbents. Provided they win their respective Primary Elections, they will face each other in the 2012 General Election.
SD25: Senator Bill Dix and Senator Robert Bacon were drawn into the same senate district together. State Senator Robert Bacon announced he is moving and also running for the Iowa House. Therefore because this district is an odd number and now not a primary challenge…it is NOT up for election in 2012.
SD09: Senator Nancy Boettger and Senator Jim Seymour were drawn into the same Senate district, both are running for the seat, therefore there is a Primary Election, even because it is an odd number. If one decides to not seek re-election, the other will retain incumbent status, and the seat will NOT be up for election.
SD29: Recently Senator Tod Bowman received sole incumbent status as Senator Tom Hancock announced he will not seek re-election. This means, this seat is now NOT up for election.
SD48: Is an even number and did not have an incumbent living within its borders; therefore it is an open seat. Democrat Representative Nate Willems announced he is running for the Senate seat, also Republican Dan Zumbach of Ryan announced his bid for the seat as well.
Use the maps on The Progress Project homepage to navigate through announced candidates, and incumbents. Check back often!
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