After weeks of debate and discussion, Iowa's representative redistricting has been finalized for another decade.
On Thursday, November 4, Governor Kim Reynolds signed the bill that would set new legislative districts going into effect in 2022, approving the second draft of proposed maps produced by the Legislative Services Agency.
These maps decide the borders for both Iowa's congressional districts for the United States House of Representatives along with the districts for Iowa's own senators and representatives.
At the Congressional level, Wright County won't see much change. While adjacent counties Cerro Gordo and Hardin will be moved into Iowa's District 2, Wright County will remain in District 4, currently represented by Randy Feenstra.
The new maps will have drastic changes for state level representation though.
Currently, Wright County sits in Senate District 4, which is shares with Hancock, Winnebago, Kossuth, and Emmet Counties. This district is currently represented by Dennis Guth (R-Klemme).
Under the new map, Wright County will instead be the center of Senate District 28, extending in the four cardinal directions to include Hancock, Franklin, Humboldt, and Hamilton Counties, along with just enough of Story County to include Story City. For Wright County, Senator Guth will remain the de facto incumbent for the new district.
For the Iowa House of Representatives, Wright County currently sits in House District 8, which includes Hancock County and a portion of Kossuth County. This district is currently represented by Terry Baxter (R-Garner).
The new map will split Wright County, putting Clarion, Goldfield, Eagle Grove, and Belmond in the new House District 56 while the southeast corner of the county will become part of the new House District 55.
The new House District 56 will also include Hancock and Humboldt Counties, leaving Representative Baxter as the de facto incumbent.
