Finding a map of MN congressional districts that actually makes sense can feel like trying to fold a fitted sheet. It’s messy. One minute you think you’re in the 3rd District because you live in Minnetonka, and the next, you’re looking at a boundary line that weaves through a neighborhood like a lost delivery driver.
Honestly, Minnesota’s political geography is a bit of a jigsaw puzzle. We have eight districts. They cover everything from the rocky shores of Lake Superior to the flat, windy cornfields near the South Dakota border. After the 2020 Census, the lines shifted—just a little—but enough to change who represents you in D.C.
Where the Lines Actually Fall
You’ve probably noticed that the Twin Cities metro is where things get crowded.
Basically, the "Seven County Metro" holds more than half the state’s population. Because districts have to be roughly equal in size (we're talking about 715,000 to 720,000 people each), the maps look like a giant bullseye. The tiny, dense districts are in the middle, and the massive, sprawling ones cover the rest of the state.
The Metro Core: Districts 4 and 5
If you’re in Minneapolis or St. Paul, your district is physically small.
- District 5 is the "Minneapolis district." It’s almost entirely urban, covering the city and first-ring suburbs like St. Louis Park and Richfield.
- District 4 is the "St. Paul district." It takes in all of Ramsey County and a slice of Washington County.
The Suburbs: Districts 2, 3, and 6
This is where the map of MN congressional districts gets interesting for commuters.
- District 3 covers the western suburbs. Think Eden Prairie, Bloomington, and Wayzata. It’s wealthy, high-education, and has been a major political battleground lately.
- District 2 drops south. It hits Burnsville and Eagan but then stretches out into the rural fields of Scott and Dakota counties. It’s that mix of "Target soccer mom" and "soybean farmer" that makes it so hard to predict.
- District 6 is the north-metro arch. It starts around Anoka and swings up toward St. Cloud. It’s consistently the most conservative area near the Twin Cities.
Greater Minnesota: The Big Three
When you look at a statewide map, three districts take up about 90% of the land.
District 1 is the southern strip. It’s a long, horizontal rectangle that runs from the border of South Dakota all the way to Wisconsin. It includes Rochester (home of the Mayo Clinic) and Mankato. If you’re driving I-90, you’re in the 1st.
District 7 is a monster. It covers almost the entire western side of the state. It’s heavy on sugar beets, wheat, and small-town values. It used to be a Democratic stronghold decades ago, but things have shifted. Now, it's deep red.
District 8 is the "Arrowhead." It includes Duluth, the Iron Range, and the Boundary Waters. It’s a unique place. You’ve got a mix of old-school union miners and environmentalists. The boundaries here reach all the way down to the northern outer-ring suburbs of the Twin Cities, which has changed the political math for the region significantly.
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Why the Map Matters in 2026
We aren’t just looking at lines for fun. These borders dictate your daily life.
Right now, Minnesota’s delegation is split right down the middle: four Democrats and four Republicans. With the 2026 midterm elections approaching, the map of MN congressional districts is the primary tool for strategists. Since the redistricting in 2022, several of these districts have become "swingier."
For example, District 2 (Angie Craig's seat) and District 3 (now Kelly Morrison's seat) are often the focus of millions of dollars in TV ads. Why? Because the map-makers drew them to be competitive.
Common Misconceptions
A lot of people think county lines are the same as district lines. They aren't.
Stearns County, for instance, is actually split between the 6th and 7th Districts. If you live in St. Cloud, you might be in a different district than your cousin who lives twenty minutes away in Sauk Centre. This is why looking up your specific zip code + 4 is way more reliable than just looking at a general map.
How to Use the Map Effectively
If you’re trying to find your specific representative, don’t just eyeball a JPEG on social media.
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- Use the Secretary of State’s Polling Place Finder: This is the "gold standard" tool. You put in your address, and it tells you exactly which congressional, state house, and state senate district you live in.
- Check for "Islands": Some districts have weird little cutouts to keep "communities of interest" together.
- Watch the 2026 Deadlines: If you're planning to vote or get involved, remember that the filing deadline for candidates is June 2, 2026, and the primary is August 11.
The reality is that a map of MN congressional districts is more than just geography—it's a reflection of how we’ve sorted ourselves into urban, suburban, and rural silos. Whether you’re in the woods of the 8th or the high-rises of the 5th, these lines determine whose door you knock on when you want something changed in Washington.
Actionable Next Steps:
To find your specific district without the guesswork, visit the Minnesota Secretary of State's official website and use their "District Finder" tool. You can also download high-resolution PDF maps from the Minnesota Geospatial Commons if you need to see the exact street-level boundary lines for your neighborhood.