Minnesota

Congressional & Legislative

Primary Authority: The Minnesota Legislature draws and enacts congressional and legislative plans, subject to the Governor’s veto. The Legislature can override a veto with a 2/3 vote in each chamber. No party currently has a veto-proof majority in either chamber. [Minn. Const. art. IV, § 3]

If a bill is presented to the Governor during session, the Governor has 3 days to sign or veto it; otherwise, it becomes law without signature. If the bill is delivered during the last 3 days of the session, the Governor must sign or veto it within 14 days of adjournment; otherwise, is pocket vetoed. Sundays are excluded from these calculations.

Mapping Timeline: The Minnesota Constitution requires the Legislature to enact congressional and legislative plans by the end of its first session after the decennial census. A state statute requires the Legislature to complete congressional and legislative redistricting in no case later than 25 weeks before the state’s primary election in years ending in 2. [Minn. Const. art. IV, § 3; Minn. Stat. § 204B.14]

Redistricting Criteria:

• Congressional: Contiguous; Substantially equal in population; Minimize political subdivision splits. [Minn. Stat. § 2.91]
• Legislative: Contiguous; Substantially equal in population; Minimize political subdivision splits; No Representative districts split when forming Senate districts. [Minn. Const. art. IV, § 3; Minn. Stat. § 2.91]

Map Challenges: Not specified.

Ballot Measure & Referendum Processes

Types of Measures: Only the Minnesota Legislature can refer amendments to the ballot. There is no initiative or referendum process. [Minn. Const. art. IX]

Previous Redistricting Cycles

2020

• Congressional
  • State Judge Panel’s Plan
    • Adopted = February 15, 2022 (Minnesota Supreme Court)
  • Boundary Adjustments – SF 4476 (Plan C07-1)
    • Passed = May 22, 2022
    • Signed = June 2, 2022
  • Litigation History
    • Wattson v. Simon, No. A21-0243 (Minn. Feb. 15, 2022): On February 19, 2021, several Minnesota voters filed a lawsuit in state court challenging Minnesota's 2010-cycle congressional and legislative districts as unconstitutionally malapportioned in violation of Article I, § 2 and the 14th Amendment’s one person, one vote requirements. The Minnesota Supreme Court assumed jurisdiction over the case on March 22, 2021, and initially stayed the case to allow the state’s political branches an opportunity to pass new plans, but on June 30, 2021, it lifted the stay and appointed a special redistricting panel to handle the case. On February 15, 2022, the special redistricting panel issued orders enjoining Minnesota's existing congressional and legislative districts from being used in the 2022 elections and adopting the court's own-drawn congressional and legislative plans for use in future primary and general elections.
    • Sachs v. Simon, No. A21-0546 (Minn. Feb. 15, 2022): On April 26, 2021, a group of registered voters in Minnesota filed a lawsuit in state court challenging Minnesota's 2010-cycle congressional and legislative districts as unconstitutionally malapportioned in violation of Article I, § 2 and the 14th Amendment’s one person, one vote requirements. The Minnesota Supreme Court assumed jurisdiction over the case on March 22, 2021, and initially stayed the case to allow the state’s political branches an opportunity to pass new plans, but on June 30, 2021, it lifted the stay and appointed a special redistricting panel to handle the case. On February 15, 2022, the special redistricting panel issued orders enjoining Minnesota's existing congressional and legislative districts from being used in the 2022 elections and adopting the court's own-drawn congressional and legislative plans for use in future primary and general elections.
• Legislative
  • State Judge Panel’s Plan
    • Adopted = February 15, 2022 (Minnesota Supreme Court)
  • Boundary Adjustments – SF 4476 (Plans L15A-1, L58A-1)
    • Passed = May 22, 2022
    • Signed = June 2, 2022
  • Litigation History
    • Wattson v. Simon, No. A21-0243 (Minn. Feb. 15, 2022): On February 19, 2021, several Minnesota voters filed a lawsuit in state court challenging Minnesota's 2010-cycle congressional and legislative districts as unconstitutionally malapportioned in violation of Article I, § 2 and the 14th Amendment’s one person, one vote requirements. The Minnesota Supreme Court assumed jurisdiction over the case on March 22, 2021, and initially stayed the case to allow the state’s political branches an opportunity to pass new plans, but on June 30, 2021, it lifted the stay and appointed a special redistricting panel to handle the case. On February 15, 2022, the special redistricting panel issued orders enjoining Minnesota's existing congressional and legislative districts from being used in the 2022 elections and adopting the court's own-drawn congressional and legislative plans for use in future primary and general elections.
    • Sachs v. Simon, No. A21-0546 (Minn. Feb. 15, 2022): On April 26, 2021, a group of registered voters in Minnesota filed a lawsuit in state court challenging Minnesota's 2010-cycle congressional and legislative districts as unconstitutionally malapportioned in violation of Article I, § 2 and the 14th Amendment’s one person, one vote requirements. The Minnesota Supreme Court assumed jurisdiction over the case on March 22, 2021, and initially stayed the case to allow the state’s political branches an opportunity to pass new plans, but on June 30, 2021, it lifted the stay and appointed a special redistricting panel to handle the case. On February 15, 2022, the special redistricting panel issued orders enjoining Minnesota's existing congressional and legislative districts from being used in the 2022 elections and adopting the court's own-drawn congressional and legislative plans for use in future primary and general elections.

2010

• Congressional
  • Original Plan – HF 1426
    • Passed = May 17, 2011 (R-controlled)
    • Vetoed = May 19, 2011 (D-controlled)
  • State Judge Panel’s Plan
    • Adopted = February 21, 2012 (by Minn. Supreme Court)
  • Litigation History
    • Hippert v. Ritchie, 813 N.W.2d 391 (Minn. 2012): After the Democratic Governor vetoed the Republican Legislature’s enacted congressional plan, the Minnesota Supreme Court was petitioned alleging that the state’s congressional districts were now unconstitutional following the 2010 census and requesting the court to convene a special redistricting panel to order and implement a lawful plan in the event the Legislature and Governor failed to do so. On February 21, 2002, with no plan having been enacted, the court struck down the state’s existing congressional plan as unconstitutional and adopted the congressional plan set forth in Appendices A and H to their order.
• Legislative
  • Original Plan – HF 1425
    • Passed = May 17, 2011 (R-controlled)
    • Vetoed = May 19, 2011 (D-controlled)
  • State Judge Panel’s Plan
    • Adopted = February 21, 2012 (by Minn. Supreme Court)
  • Legislature’s 1st Revised House Plan – HF 2821
    • Passed = April 27, 2012 (R-controlled)
    • Vetoed = May 2, 2012 (D-controlled)
  • Legislature’s 2nd Revised House Plan – HF 894
    • Passed = May 22, 2013 (D-controlled)
    • Signed = May 23, 2013 (D-controlled)
  • Litigation History
    • Hippert v. Ritchie, 813 N.W.2d 374 (Minn. 2012): After the Democratic Governor vetoed the Republican Legislature’s enacted legislative plans, the Minnesota Supreme Court was petitioned alleging that the state’s legislative districts were now unconstitutional following the 2010 census and requesting the court to convene a special redistricting panel to order and implement lawful plans in the event the Legislature and Governor failed to do so. On February 21, 2002, with no plans having been enacted, the court struck down the state’s existing legislative plans as unconstitutional and adopted the legislative plans set forth in Appendices A and H to their order.

2000

• Congressional
  • State Judge Panel’s Plan (State Supreme Court adopted after split-controlled Legislature failed to pass a plan)
    • Adopted = March 19, 2002
  • Litigation History
    • Zachman v. Kiffmeyer, No. C0-01-160 (Minn. Mar. 19, 2002): The Minnesota Supreme Court was petitioned alleging the state’s present congressional districts were now unconstitutional following the 2000 census and requesting that the court appoint a special redistricting panel to adopt a new plan if the Legislature failed to do so in a timely manner. On March 19, 2002, with no congressional plan having been enacted, the court ordered the adoption of its congressional plan detailed in Appendices A through F of their order.
• Legislative
  • State Judge Panel’s Plans (State Supreme Court adopted after split-controlled Legislature failed to pass plans)
    • Adopted = March 19, 2002
  • Litigation History
    • Zachman v. Kiffmeyer, No. C0-01-160 (Minn. Mar. 19, 2002): The Minnesota Supreme Court was petitioned alleging the state’s present legislative districts were now unconstitutional following the 2000 census and requesting that the court appoint a special redistricting panel to adopt new plans if the Legislature failed to do so in a timely manner. On March 19, 2002, with no legislative plans having been enacted, the court ordered the adoption of its legislative plans detailed in Appendices A through F of their order.

In The News

• DFL lawmakers propose redistricting commission, 2024 ballot question to modify constitution, Minnesota Reformer (3/11/24)
• Minnesota Courts Release New Political District Maps, AP (2/16/22)
• DFL Releases Minnesota Legislative Map Proposal, Though Court Will Likely Decide Fate, Duluth News Tribune (11/20/21)
• Lawsuit Could Have Courts Redraw Minnesota's Political Maps, AP (2/23/21)
• Minnesota on the Edge of Losing Congressional Seat after 'Chaotic' Census Count, Star Tribune (12/30/20)
• Census Delays could Hamper Minnesota Lawmakers' Ability to Redraw State Political Map, MinnPost (12/8/20)
• Election Sets Stage for more Gridlock at Minnesota Capitol, AP (11/4/20)
• Minnesota is Still a Battleground State - Just not in the Presidential Election, MinnPost (10/27/20)
• 'We Need to Tell the Full Story': State Officials Urge US Census Bureau to Restore Oct. 31 Deadline, CBS Minnesota (9/16/20)
• Battle for Minnesota Senate Could Shift Balance of Power at the State Legislative, Star Tribune (9/12/20)
• Census Advocates Warn of Incomplete Count in Minnesota, Star Tribune (9/1/20)