The new redistricting plan for Faribault County is shown above. The white area is the new District 22A, which includes Winnebago, Delavan and Blue Earth. The rest of the county, shown in green, is part of District 23A.

While much of Faribault County is going to be in Minnesota Legislative District 23A, Blue Earth and Winnebago are going to become a part of District 22A.

All of this is part of the recently released redistricting plan for the whole state, required because of the recent census results.

In the past, Faribault County was also split, but it was with the far eastern part of the county (including Wells, Walters and Kiester) as a part of District 23B, along with Freeborn County. The rest of Faribault County was in District 23A.

Now most of the eastern two-thirds of the county will be 23A, while the far western part becomes part of 22A.

District 22A encompasses that small part of Faribault County, a big chunk of Martin County, the eastern half of Watonwan County and most of Blue Earth County (but not the city of Mankato).

District 23A will be the eastern part of Faribault County, western part of Freeborn County and southern halves of Waseca and Steele counties.

The new boundaries will bring about some changes in the areas current state representatives cover.

State Rep. Bjorn Olson, who currently is the representative for District 23A, will eventually have to run for election from District 22A, and he recently announced that’s his intention.

Olson, who lived in Elmore when he was elected, moved to Fairmont about a year ago. Elmore remains a part of District 23A, while Fairmont is now part of District 22A.

The new District 22A is home to another Republican state Representative, Jeremy Munson, of Lake Crystal.

“Representative Munson has decided to retire and not run for re-election in the next election,” Rep. Olson said this week. “I’m excited to continue serving my friends and neighbors in the new District 22A. It’s where my family has called home for over 150 years, and it’s where my wife and I live and are raising our family,” Olson said.

He added that he thinks that no matter where he lives, or what district he represents, he feels he represents folks across southern Minnesota.

The same issue of two legislators finding themselves in the same district is true for the new Senate District 22, which is composed of both Representative District 22A and 22B.

Two current state senators now reside in the new district; Sen. Julie Rosen, of Fairmont, and Sen. Rich Draheim, of Madison Lake, which is currently in District 20.

Sen. Rosen has also recently announced her intention of retiring and not running for re-election in the new district in the next election.

The new Senate District 22 stretches from parts of Faribault and Martin counties in the south, to Le Sueur County in the north.

In a statment, Sen. Rosen had this to say:

“Representing the people of southern Minnesota for two decades has been a tremendous honor, and I have treasured my time in the Senate,” Rosen said. “The friendships I made throughout my tenure will carry on, and I thank every one of my constituents who blessed me with the opportunity to serve them.”

As far as the eastern two-thirds of Faribault County, their District 23A will join with District 23B to form Senate Distict 23. District 23B covers the eastern part of Freeborn County, the western three-fourths of Mower County and a small corner of Steele County.

Much of that area is currently District 27 and is served by State Representative Peggy Bennett of Albert Lea, and State Senator Gene Dornink.