Republicans and DFLers have this week to finish their suggestions for how to draw new Minnesota's new Congressional and legislative maps. They'll turn them in to a court-appointed panel that's expected to finish the redistricting process in a couple of months.

The first of eight public hearings will be held Tuesday night in Bloomington. The meetings are one of the steps towards redrawing congressional and legislative district lines.

Many observers speculate a five-judge panel will release the new legislative and congressional district maps next week. The court panel is now responsible for the maps because the GOP-controlled legislature and DFL Gov. Mark Dayton failed to agree on the new maps. Redistricting is required every 10 years to keep nearly the same number of people in each district.

Minnesota's new political maps are out, and they pair Republican Rep. Michele Bachmann with Democrat Betty McCollum in the 4th District. But, as the Star Tribune reports, members of Congress don't have to live in the districts they represent, so she's free to run for re-election in her old 6th District.

Forum Communications reports candidates may be raising some money now, but are ultimately waiting to see how districts shake up after the new political maps are completed in February before tossing their hat into the ring.

Republicans in Minnesota First Congressional District chose Allen Quist over State Senator Mike Parry in Tuesday's primary. Quist is a former state lawmaker whose political comeback continues as he moves on to face incumbent Democrat Tim Walz in November.