2011 Redistricting - Analysis of New Johnson County Districts

On March 31, 2011, the Legislative Service Agency released the first proposed map of Iowa congressional and legislative districts.  The Iowa House and Senate approved this plan on April 14, 2011. Governor Branstad signed the bill on April 19.

New Iowa Districts (pdf files require Adobe Acrobat Reader)
(Plan 1 submitted March 31, 2011, signed into law April 19, 2011)

Maps

• Statewide Districts Map (22"x34" PDF format)
  • Front
  • Back (with city insets)
• Districts Map (8.5"x11" PDF format)
  • Congressional
  • Senate
  • House
• Districts Maps Overlayed on Google Maps
  • Congressional
  • Senate
  • House
• Individual Legislative District Maps (PDF Format)
  • Senate
  • House

Documentation

• Redistricting Plan Report  (PDF Format)
• Redistricting Plan Bill  (PDF Format)

The Legislature was only able to accept or reject the proposal as a whole package, and no amendments or changes were allowed.  If this plan had been rejected, the Legislative Service Agency would have produced a second plan.

All districts must be redrawn every 10 years to reflect the results of the U.S. census, so that districts have nearly equal population.

As a result of the 2010 census, Iowa will lose one seat in the U.S. House of Representatives and will have four House members beginning in the 2012 election. Under this map, Representatives Bruce Braley (D-Waterloo) and Dave Loebsack (D-Mt. Vernon) were both in the 1st District. On April 14, after the plan was approved by the Iowa Legislature, Congressman Loebsack announced his intention to move to Johnson County (which he has since done) and run in the new 2nd District.

Representatives Tom Latham (R-Ames) and Steve King (R-Kiron) were both placed in the 4th District. Congressman Latham has moved into the 3rd District, where Rep. Leonard Boswell (D-Des Moines) also lives.

Johnson County Summary

Johnson County is in the 2nd Congressional District. At the time the plan was approved by the Iowa Legislature, no incumbent representative lived in this district. On April 14, after the plan was approved by the Legislature, Congressman Loebsack announced his intention to move to Johnson County (which he has since done) and run in the new 2nd District.

Johnson County is in five Iowa House districts and three Iowa Senate districts.  Four Iowa House districts and one Iowa Senate district are entirely within Johnson County.  The boundaries follow the old precinct lines established in 2001 within cities, but split some rural precincts.

House District 73 includes the following Johnson County precincts:

• Big Grove, Cedar, Graham, Newport and Scott Townships
• City of Solon
• Portion of West Branch in Johnson County

The district also includes all of Cedar County and the city of Wilton in Muscatine County. Rep. Jeff Kaufmann (R-Wilton) lives in this district.

House District 74 includes the following Johnson County precincts:

• City of Coralville
• Iowa City precincts 7, 8 and 9 (old and new)
• Penn Township
• East Lucas North

At the time the map was approved, Representatives Dave Jacoby (D-Coralville) and Mary Mascher (D-Iowa City) lived in this district. On April 20, 2011, Rep. Mascher announced plans to move into House District 86.

Senate District 37 includes proposed House Districts 73 and 74. Senator Bob Dvorsky (D-Coralville) lives in this district.

House District 77 includes the following Johnson County precincts:

• Cities of Lone Tree, North Liberty, Oxford, Shueyville, Swisher, and Tiffin
• Clear Creek, Fremont, Hardin, Lincoln, Jefferson East and West, Madison, Monroe, Oxford, Pleasant Valley, Sharon, Union, and Washington Townships
• Portion of West Lucas Township west of railroad tracks
• Portions of Liberty Township west of railroad tracks and south of city of Hills (does NOT include city of Hills) Note: The legislation establishing districts defines city limits as the boundaries on January 1, 2010. At that time, the city limits of Hills included the Crandic Railroad right of way from the main body of Hills to the city limits of Iowa City at Izaak Walton League Road. Since that date, the city of Hills has de-annexed the northern part of the railroad right of way.

No incumbent representatives live in this district.

House District 78 does not include any Johnson County precincts. Rep. Jarad Klein (R-Keota), who currently represents seven Johnson County precincts, lives in this district. Rep. Betty DeBoef (R-What Cheer) also lives in this district, but has announced she will not seek re-election. This district includes all of Keokuk County and most of Washington County.

Senate District 39 includes House Districts 77 and 78. Senator Sandra Greiner (R-Keota) lives in this district.

House District 85 is entirely in the city of Iowa City and includes the following precincts:

• New Iowa City precincts 1, 4, 5, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, and 24
  (old precincts 4, 5, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25.)

Rep. Vicki Lensing (D-Iowa City) lives in this district.

House District 86 includes the following precincts:

• Iowa City precincts 2, 3, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 18
  (old precincts 1, 2, 3, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 18.)
• Cities of University Heights and Hills
• East Lucas South (both southeast and southwest)
• Portions of Liberty and West Lucas townships east of railroad tracks. Note: The proposed legislation establishing districts defines city limits as the boundaries on January 1, 2010. At that time, the city limits of Hills included the Crandic Railroad right of way from the main body of Hills to the city limits of Iowa City at Izaak Walton league Road. Since that date, the city of Hills has de-annexed the northern part of the railroad right of way.

No incumbent representatives lived in this district when the map was passed. On April 20, 2011, Rep. Mary Mascher (D-Iowa City) announced plans to move into this district.

Senate District 43 includes House Districts 85 and 86. Senator Joe Bolkcom (D-Iowa City) lives in this district.

In addition to Representative Klein, Senator Jim Hahn (R-Muscatine) and Representative Nate Willems (D-Lisbon), who currently represent parts of Johnson County, live in districts that do not include any Johnson County precincts.