REGIONAL— Residents of several townships in northern St. Louis and Itasca counties have both a new state senator and a new representative following the announcement of the latest political boundaries on Feb. 15.
The revised boundaries, established by a panel of judges, are part of the redistricting that follows every once-a-decade census. The 2020 census provided the latest documentation of the gradual shift of the state’s population toward the Twin Cities metro region, and that trend has forced many rural legislative districts in northern and western Minnesota to expand geographically in order include the required number of residents to equal the representation in other districts across the state.
The Third Senate District encompasses a vast swath of northeastern and north-central Minnesota, stretching 230 miles east-to-west along the Canadian border, from Grand Portage nearly to Baudette on Lake of the Woods.
It’s the most sparsely-populated senate district in the state and it’s been represented in the state Senate by Tom Bakk, I-Cook, for more than two decades, and — with the exception of a small portion in the Duluth area — by Rep. Rob Ecklund, DFL-International Falls, in the Minnesota House.
Both their districts have grown larger in area as a result of the latest redistricting, and now include Vermilion Lake, Kugler, and Waasa townships, along with Hoyt Lakes, all in St. Louis County, and Bearville and Carpenter townships, both in Itasca County. Several other large townships in northern Itasca County are now included in the Third District as well.
Both Ecklund and Bakk expressed some relief that their district boundaries remain largely intact. “I think it will be okay for me,” said Ecklund, who is planning to seek re-election. “The district is changing and the politics are changing and I’ll still have to work like heck to win.” Ecklund said he’ll have to get to know voters in a few new places, such as Hoyt Lakes, but he expects to get help there from his fellow DFL lawmaker David Lislegard. He said he’s already been in contact with former Rep. Tom Anzelc, who has offered to help introduce Ecklund to voters in far northern Itasca County, which Anzelc used to represent. Ecklund also has family connections in that portion of Itasca County, which could help. “I think it will be all right,” he said. “I’ll have to hit the ground running as soon as session is out.”
While Sen. Tom Bakk told the Timberjay this past week that he still is undecided about a re-election bid, he offered many more reasons to seek another term than to retire. “I don’t know what I would do with myself, frankly,” he said. “You can’t golf and fish everyday.” He said he’ll need to have more discussions with family, legislative colleagues and others before making a final decision. “I should decide by around late March,” he said.
Changes for other Iron Range districts
Meanwhile, the Sixth Senate District, which used to encompass the East Range has shifted far to the southwest, replaced by the new Seventh District, which now encompasses the portions of the East Range formerly included in the Sixth.
Area townships now part of the new Seventh District include Angora, Alango, Embarrass, Pike, Sandy, Morcom, Sturgeon, and Wuori. Residents there are also likely to have a new senator, given that current Sen. David Tomassoni isn’t expected to seek re-election.