Bizarre scenario could result in Democrats picking up multiple seats in Minnesota in 2022

Minnesota could see a convergence of events collide in a manner that could help Democrats pick up multiple congressional seats during the 2022 midterm elections.

"Legal wrangling has begun over new Minnesota congressional and legislative district boundaries stemming from the 2020 census with the filing of a new lawsuit," Minnesota Public Radio reported Monday. "Every 10 years the political maps are redrawn to account for population shifts, with a goal of making each type of district roughly equal in size. Since the 1970s in Minnesota, it's a process that has spilled into the courts and resulted in judges dictating the layout."

The radio network reported on a new lawsuit filed on Friday in Carver County and the state Supreme Court.

"The cases name election officials as the defendants and seeks to prevent the current maps from being used in 2022. That's a concern because census figures have been delayed until fall and Minnesota's legislature has divided party control. Minnesota could also lose a congressional seat this round," MPR reported. "The case brought by retired legislative redistricting expert Peter Wattson and others says judges should insist on new maps. And it says the courts should draw them if nothing clears the Legislature by this time next year."

On Twitter, MPR reporter David Montgomery noted a fascinating potential outcome in the case if Minnesota loses a congressional seat.

"If that happens and new congressional seats are not drawn by the Minnesota Legislature or this Court, Defendants will have no choice but to hold a congressional election in 2022 where all candidates run at large, as happened in 1932," the lawsuit reads.

"Wouldn't THAT be wild!" Montgomery posted on Twitter.

"An at-large statewide election would probably net Democrats a few extra seats in Congress for at least one cycle, by bringing the otherwise 'wasted' (technical term!) demographic mass of the Twin Cities to bear on all 7 seats," he explained.