How Iowa’s nonpartisan redistricting process came to be

As first term members of the House Republican caucus in 1980, we were part of a proud and remarkable moment in Iowa political history. Out of that moment came a fair, nonpartisan election redistricting process that has stood the test of time for 40 years as the country’s gold standard. As is true today, Republicans were in firm control of Iowa’s state government with Bob Ray as governor and strong majorities in both the House and Senate. We sincerely hope today’s Republican majority will follow the fair, nonpartisan, time-tested procedures for redistricting adopted in 1980 and avoid the temptation to corrupt the process.

Every 10 years after the decennial census, the legislature must redraw congressional and legislative district boundaries in response to population changes. This is necessary in order to satisfy the “one person one vote” requirement established by the United States Supreme Court.

For much of U.S. history the majority parties in each state have used redistricting as a partisan weapon, creatively assembling districts that help perpetuate their own power and protect their incumbents.

However, in 1980, Iowa did something extraordinary. Instead of letting the majority party control the upcoming redistricting process for their partisan advantage, the Iowa Legislature passed bipartisan legislation making the non-political Legislative Service Bureau responsible for developing Iowa’s new district boundaries. This approach increase the potential of throwing incumbents together in the same district, creates more competitive districts, invariably brings “new blood” into the legislature, and can have an impact on which party controls the legislature. The “Iowa Plan” was the first of its kind in U.S. history, and forty years later still is considered a model for the nation.

How in the world did this happen? When new districts would be drawn in 1981, Republicans were guaranteed to hold the governor’s office and were expected to retain firm control of at least the Senate and likely the House as well in the 1980 elections. Why would the GOP voluntarily cooperate developing a redistricting process that could end the careers of some of its members and possibly throw legislative control to the opposing party instead of adopting a plan that favored its own narrow interests?

We attended House GOP caucuses where a vocal contingent fought hard to retain the traditional partisan approach. However, those in the caucus who favored the nonpartisan approach prevailed, with the argument that this was the right thing to do. Indeed, the fact that the caucus chose fairness over party was a shining moment for the Republican Party and an example of “good government” at its best. We think it’s highly unlikely that we’d see that happen in today’s highly charged atmosphere regardless of which party was in control.

The 2021 legislative session is underway and it will soon be time for redistricting, although a delay in census data may disrupt the normal process. As was the case in 1980, a Republican is in Terrace Hill and Republicans have commanding majorities in both the House and Senate. In these increasingly divisive and partisan times, will the Republican majority honor Iowa’s nonpartisan approach to redistricting established in 1980, as their predecessors did in 1991, 2001, and 2011?

The Iowa Supreme Court, which could play a major role in redistricting this time due to the data delay, has said it will seek to follow the bipartisan process.

Iowa has worked hard to earn a reputation for clean government, with our redistricting law being one of its cornerstones and a historic Republican achievement. We urge today’s Republican Party to uphold Iowa’s good government image and resist the temptation to abandon a nonpartisan approach that works well and is considered a model for the nation.

Andy McKean, of Anamosa, served in the Iowa House 1979-92 and 2017-20, and in the Iowa Senate, 1993-2002, where he chaired the Judiciary Committee and served as President Pro Tem. Darrell Hanson, of Altoona, served in the Iowa House from Delaware County, 1979-94, where he chaired the Ways and Means Committee and served as Assistant House Minority Leader.