SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KTIV) - Iowa made history Tuesday, becoming the first state in the nation to finish the arduous task of redrawing legislative districts. The new maps, signed into law by Governor Terry Branstad today, show the state's urban districts gaining population, and the rural areas losing people.
As it stands right now, 18 incumbent Republicans will go head to head next November, while just six Democrats will do the same. Still, the plan saw overwhelming support from parties in both chambers and was swiftly signed into law by the Governor.
Two freshman lawmakers from Sioux City, Democrat Chris Hall and Republican Jeremy Taylor will face each other in 2012. Taylor thinks the votes are on his side.
"The district that I find myself in now, is far more favorable than the one that I would have stayed closer to the previous district that I had," said Taylor
However, Hall says he's gotten to know his constituents and thinks they'll be loyal to him in the next election.
"I'm very glad for the fact that the bulk of my district will remain in tact," said Hall. #
Both say their strategy for 2012 is to get things done in 2011. More than a dozen Republicans are set to face each other in the next election, unless they move out of the district.
"That's one of the downsides of being so successful in the elections last November," said state GOP chairman Matt Strawn.
Woodbury County Democrats see an opportunity in the next election.
"It's going to be like it was in 2010. You have to go after every single vote and talk to every single voter. It's the only way you're going to win," said Mullin.
Representatives Royd Chambers and Dan Huseman, not only share a house in Des Moines, soon they'll also share the same district.
"It is kind of awkward being roommates and getting thrown in together, but again we wouldn't be roommate if we didn't get along with each other," said joked.
He says the topic's come up, and that neither's made a definite decision on their political future. Huseman has been recovering from bypass surgery following a heart attack this month. Because rural regions are shrinking, many districts were thrown together. That includes those represented by Senate President Jack Kibbie of Emmetsburg, a Democrat, and Senator David Johnson, a Republican, from Ocheyedan.
"There's going to be legislators that retire, or find themselves in primaries, or a situation of an incumbent in one party against an incumbent in another."
Johnson will no longer serve traditional conservative strongholds Sioux and O'Brien counties. He says he'll lose some Republicans, but not many.
"A very difficult seat for any Democrat to win," said Johnson.
That's why Johnson says he has every intention to run in his new district in 2012. As for Kibbie, who's served in the legislature since 1961, when the map first came out, he said, "it would be impossible to elect a Democrat in the future in that map."
Kibbie's stated he will make an announcement about his future plans, after this year's session comes to a close.
Online Reporter: Kristen Johnson
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