Current House District 22A to 'largely become' District 21A

District 22A Rep. Joe Schomacker (R-Luverne) and residents of southwestern Minnesota have learned the maps of new legislative districts in the State Legislature.

A special panel of five state judges released its redistricting plan for the Minnesota Legislature on Tuesday. The plan is necessary due to population changes recorded from the 2020 census.

Here is the redistricting breakdown, as it relates to residents of the current House District 22A, which is comprised of communities in Lincoln, Lyon, Pipestone, Murray, Nobles, and Rock counties:

The current House District 22A largely becomes the new House District 21A. It will now be comprised of Rock, Pipestone, Lincoln, and Murray counties in their entirety.

All of Lyon County will now become part of a new House District 15A.

The new House District 21A also includes the western portion of Nobles County, including the cities of Adrian, Ellsworth, Lismore, and Wilmont, along with the neighboring townships. A significant portion of Cottonwood County will also be added to the new House District 21A, including the cities of Jeffers, Storden, and Westbrook.

"With population gain in the Twin Cities, I was worried that we would lose border-city and border-county seats in the adjustment,” Schomacker said. "I am thankful to see that in southwestern Minnesota, that is not the case."

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Meanwhile, Rep. Bjorn Olson has announced that he will run for re-election in the new District 22A, which is made up of more than 60% of his current House district. Under the final redistricting maps released this week, the newly created District 22A includes western Faribault County, most of Martin County, the eastern half of Watonwan County and most of Blue Earth County.

"I'm excited to continue serving my friends and neighbors in the new District 22A. It's where my family has called home for over 150 years, and it's where my wife and I live and are raising our family," Olson said. "This past term, I stood up for the conservative principles of our district, voting numerous times to defend our values in Southern Minnesota."

Olson is currently serving as an Assistant House Minority Leader. Prior to serving in the legislature, Olson served as mayor of Elmore, Minnesota. He is also a teacher and farmer, and serves as a captain in the U.S. Army Reserve.