Plan proposes big changes in Iowa's congressional districts

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s four congressional districts would include two that lean heavily toward Republicans, one that favors Democrats and one that both parties would have a chance at winning under proposed redistricting maps released Thursday by a nonpartisan agency.

The Legislative Services Agency has redrawn Iowa's political dividing lines to create a southeastern Iowa 1st Congressional District likely to favor Democrats by placing Linn, Johnson and Scott counties in one district. In south-central Iowa, the 3rd District would slightly lean Democratic thanks to the inclusion of Polk County, the state's large population base.

The new 4th District would grow even larger, increasing from 39 counties to 44 counties, approaching nearly half of Iowa's 99 counties. It has long been a Republican stronghold and would be even more conservative under the new map.

In northeast Iowa, the proposed 26-county 2nd District would gain Story County, home to Ames, and lean more toward Republicans.

Iowa currently has one Democratic representative and three Republicans.

By state law, the nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency is responsible for following detailed guidelines to ensure population balance among Iowa’s congressional districts and to prevent political influence in the initial drafting of changes.

The agency's report said the ideal congressional district population is 797,592 and each of the new districts are close to that, with the 1st District having 63 more people, the 2nd District 36 under, the 3rd eight people under, and the 4th 18 under.

Now that the first map is provided to the Legislature and the public, a five-member Iowa Temporary Redistricting Advisory Commission has 14 days to hold public hearings to gather comment and prepare a report for the...