Proposed Iowa Map Would Pit Latham, King

By Reid Wilson  //  March 31, 2011 | 3:00 p.m.
Updated: April 2, 2011 | 11:55 a.m.

Proposed Congressional boundaries in Iowa would pit the state's two remaining Republicans, Reps. Steve King and Tom Latham, against each other in a massive district stretching from the Missouri River to the outskirts of Des Moines.

The proposal is a blow to Republicans, who expected to see Latham's northern Iowa district combined with Rep. Leonard Boswell's (D) Des Moines-based seat. Strategists on both sides expected that new district to be a toss-up, winnable by either party.

Instead, Democratic Reps. Bruce Braley and Dave Loebsack have been lumped into the same district, while an open district in the Southeast corner of the state is heavily Democratic territory. President Obama won 57 percent of the two-party vote in the new southeast district, which includes the Quad Cities and Iowa City. Obama took 59 percent of the vote in the northeastern First District, which contains Braley's bases in Cedar Rapids and Dubuque, as well as Loebsack's Mt. Vernon home.

Boswell's district would actually shed some Democratic voters. His current district is centered in Des Moines and stretches east along Interstate 80; it gave Obama 54 percent of the vote in 2008. His new district, which lumps Des Moines into the southwest corner of the state and includes Council Bluffs, gave Obama 53 percent of the vote in 2008, slightly under Obama's 54 percent statewide winning percentage.

The map, composed by a group of nonpartisan legislative staffers, is subject to a vote by the state House and Senate. Latham's office issued a statement praising the redistricting commission for its independence and fairness, but he hinted the legislature may not be finished tinkering with the lines. "I know that the members of the Legislature will keep the best interests of the people of Iowa at heart as they move forward with the next steps of this redistricting process," Latham said in a statement. "I am honored to represent the good people of Iowa in the United States Congress, and, regardless of the specifics of the final map, I will continue to work on behalf of the interest of all Iowans." In his own statement, Boswell pointed out he has already represented 32 counties in Iowa during his tenure in Congress. Aside from his base in Polk County, Boswell will have to introduce himself in 15 new counties he has never represented before. Then again, Boswell cannot be certain he will have a clear shot at the Democratic nomination. Former Iowa First Lady Christie Vilsack, wife of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, is considering getting involved in politics herself. She would likely run against Boswell, if she decides to enter the race in 2012.

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