ST. PAUL - Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton today vetoed Republican-written plan to redraw state legislative and federal congressional districts.
Earlier, he said that he would not sign any redistricting plan -- or other election-related bills -- without broad bipartisan support.
The redistricting plans left the House and Senate on mostly party-line votes.
In a letter to lawmakers, Dayton said that he had warned them that he would not approve a redistricting plan drawn "for the purpose of protecting or defeating incumbents."
Dayton said the U.S. House plan creates safe seats for six of the state's eight congressmen. The legislative plan, he said, appears to favor Republicans, he wrote.
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The new map greatly rewrote the boundaries for Minnesota 7th and 8th congressional districts. A new 8th District included roughly the top third of northern Minnesota, from Moorhead and East Grand Forks to Duluth.
The U.S. Supreme Court requires legislative and congressional districts to be redrawn every 10 years to make sure all districts are the same size.
Don Davis reports for Forum Communications Co., which owns the Herald.
