MINNESOTA COULD LOSE US HOUSE SEAT

Minnesota population continues to grow but not as fast as sunbelt states and that means representation in the US House could drop from 8 seats to 7. State Demographer Tom Gillespie said it seems to be a race between Minnesota and Washington as to which state loses one congressional seat. Wisconsin went from 9 House seats to 8 in 2000 and Iowa may lose one seat after the 2010 census. Minnesota had 9 seats until the 1960 census and if none of the current lawmakers retires in 2010 and the delegation drops to 7, two incumbents would face each other in a combined district.