The power of the 'burbs

Posted at 8:01 AM on February 23, 2006 by Bob Collins

You'd never guess it by the coverage provided by most mainstream media, but the suburbs are where it's at politically in Minnesota and -- increasingly -- economically. But Congressional Quarterly apparently gets it with an article today Suburbs Playing Host to Several of Year's Key Races. Of course, it's just a series of bullet points and it only includes the 6th District but, think about how things have changed in just the last 10 years.

The 2nd District appears to be relatively red, and it probably won't make a list of key races nationally, but regardless of how it presently leans, there's no denying the dynamics of the district have changed since the suburbs became a bigger player in the district. At one time, perhaps a Farmfest appearance provided enough votes, but probably not anymore.

Certainly in the 6th, it was redistricting and the growth of the East metro (the most ignored part of the metro, even to candidates for the 6th District) that has led the district to a more conservative tilt.

And maybe the equal opportunity nature of the suburbs has changed some districts in other ways. Too early to tell. But with some of the Lake Minnetonka area races going blue at the state level recently, maybe the 3rd -- which already had a penchant for moderation -- is getting a deeper shade of blue in its purple.

Services

• Hourly Newscast
• HD Radio
• iPhone App / Mobile
• E-mail newsletters
• RSS feeds
• Podcasts
• Submit your photos
• Videos
• Weather
• Most e-mailed stories