Intrigue in new political boundaries

There's a fair amount of intrigue in the redrawing of the Mankato area political boundaries via the redistricting maps that came out Tuesday.

The top ones:

Rep. Tony Cornish, R-Good Thunder, might either run in a primary against the less senior incumbent Republican Paul Torkelson because they're both in the same district, or might run for Republican Julie Rosen's Senate seat should she decide not to go against Republican Sen. Al DeKruif in a primary election.

St. Peter DFL Rep. Terry Morrow, if he wins, will end up representing about 4,000 people in West Mankato, the first time I can remember anyone from St. Peter or Nicollet County representing anyone from Mankato.

Morrow's new district will be interesting as well, pairing an upper income contingent of West Mankato with places like rural Le Sueur County and Kasota.

Morrow will no longer have to campaign in rural Sibley County, which from memory was probably the place that was toughest sledding for him.

Cornish told The Free Press he wasn't "ready to retire" so he'll be running somewhere, against someone.

I've talked to several political observers and many note that Rep. Cornish seems to be emerging as the "moderate" "wise old sage" of area Republicans. A few years ago, he would've been considered very conservative by the same folks.

But, as I've always said, the Mankato region is pretty "purple" -- a mix between red and blue. People vote for the person and they tend to be independent.

Cornish might note that he was related to Minnesota's last "independent" governor Jesse Ventura

This year's election also should be interesting to watch because even the incumbents have new voters who they've not had to convince in the past.

DFL Rep. Kathy Brynaert has always been elected mostly be people in Mankato city. But now she'll need to convince some folks in Eagle Lake to vote for her.

DFL Sen. Kathy Sheran also loses parts of Sibley County but picks up Kasota and Eagle Lake, both areas it seems would have a propensity to lean Democratic more than Sibley County.