7 Ways the Court Redistricting Plan Establishes ALANA Political Power and Influence in Minnesota

A Call for Action

Bruce P. Corrie, PhD, Economist and Plaintiff

A group of ALANA (African Latino Asian and Native American) leaders and organizations filed a petition with the Special Redistricting Panel and for the first time in Minnesota history became an active participant in the redistricting process in Minnesota (see list below).

This analysis focuses on what the judges panel did in defining the contours on power and not on how the plan differs from what the community wanted and reflected in what has been called the Corrie plaintiffs plan.

The judicial panel appointed by the Minnesota Supreme Court recognized the important role that the ALANA communities played in keeping 8 congressional districts in Minnesota. The panel received input from the ALANA communities and the Corrie Plaintiffs and incorporated this input into the legislative districts proposed. In doing so they offer a platform for adequate political representation of ALANA interests which candidates to political office and elected officials should honor and uphold, especially in efforts to eradicate the sharp racial disparities in the state which I estimated to be at least $287 billion dollars.

The final order of the Special Redistricting panel of judges defining the contours of political power in Minnesota for the next decade is significant for the ALANA (African Latino Asian and Native American) communities in seven important ways:

First, it acknowledged the foundational roles of the ALANA communities in defining the new political districts and established the importance and need for adequate political representation and voice:

“We recognize that the population growth that enabled Minnesota to retain its eight congressional districts was driven by our increase BIPOC population. This growth is reflected in the racial and ethnic composition of the new districts.” Final Order, page 18

Second, it established the role that the ALANA plaintiff group played in the redistricting process as an equal institutionalized voice.

“We subsequently granted the motions of plaintiff-intervenors Paul Anderson, et al. and plaintiff-intervenors Dr. Bruce Corrie, et al. to intervene in this action.” Final Order, page 3.

“In addition to the numerous BIPOC Minnesotans who spoke at public hearings, the Corrie plaintiffs brought the voices of many members of the BIPOC community to our attention through declarations detailing their experiences and redistricting preferences.” Final Order, page 9.

Third, while integrating the input of the ALANA plaintiff group and the ALANA community members who provided input to the panel, the order sets a precedent by inviting future legislative bodies to understand and represent the interests of their constituents.

“These declarations and the Corrie plaintiffs’ redistricting proposals that incorporated them may also be a resource for the legislature in the future.” Final Order, page 9.

“The information we received from all sources was important to our work. Minnesotans from across the state urged the panel to recognize and respect the sovereignty and interests of federally recognized American Indian tribes, and to draw districts that enhance their voices and opportunity to elect representatives of their choice.” Final Order, page 19

As a plaintiff, I filed a declaration documenting the importance of the ethnic economy and the importance of representing the interests of the ethnic economy as these legislative districts are defined. This intent was integrated into the Corrie plaintiffs’ plan.

“An ethnic economy of this size provides critical economic mass to facilitate economic growth (assuming political alignment and responsiveness) in the form of new or larger grocery stores, hair salons, retail stores, travel agencies, tax preparers, realtors, financial, legal and business services. These ethnic businesses also tend to employ ethnic workers and help the non-ethnic businesses with the goods and services they purchase.  For example, through a detailed study in 2015, The Economic Potential of African Immigrants in Minnesota, and new projected estimates for 2021 reveal that African immigrants spend $767 million at ethnic stores and $2.1 billion in mainstream stores annually in Minnesota.  By growing the local ethnic economy, the economy of the entire district grows. Adequate political representation of ethnic groups is important in making this happen.” Corrie plaintiff declaration, page 3.

Fourth, with the above definition of a viable ethnic economy of at least $100 million dollars in each legislative district, the Court constructed legislative districts very similar to that proposed by the Corrie plaintiff plan in terms of the number of districts. 72 percent of the House and 100 percent of the Senate districts have an ethnic economy of $100 + million. This implies that if legislators adequately represent the interests of their ALANA constituents, there are enough votes in the House and Senate to pass needed legislation to build the wealth infrastructure of the ALANA communities and address racial disparities. A $100 million ethnic economy in a district would include at least 5000 ALANA people, workers, homeowners, renters and a wide range of ethnic businesses. The ALANA economies in the Senate districts for example, range from $100+ million to over $1 billion.

Similarly, in the provision of minority-majority and opportunity districts, the Court political districts for the most part were similar to the ones in the Corrie plaintiff’s plan in terms of the number of possible districts and following the increasing presence of ALANA communities all across Minnesota and in particular, in Greater Minnesota. What is important is beyond the majority and opportunity districts, the spread of the ALANA voter influence more widely throughout Minnesota is noteworthy. For example, in 117 districts or 87 percent of House districts, ALANA constituents comprise over 10 percent of the population in that legislative district.

The Special Redistricting Panel also supported the Corrie plaintiff’s proposal to keep the Native American communities together in the 8^th Congressional District and in other parts of the state.

Fifth, in providing an explicit rationale behind the construction of the political districts, the Special Redistricting Panel mentioned both the political importance of the ALANA communities in keeping Minnesota’s congressional seats as well as their importance within legislative districts and in particular the direct role of the Corrie plaintiffs in influencing the current political districts.

“The panel also received proposed congressional redistricting plans and written briefs from the four plaintiff groups in this action—the Wattson plaintiffs, Anderson plaintiffs, Sachs plaintiffs, and Corrie plaintiffs. And we heard oral arguments about the proposed redistricting plans.5 The plaintiffs did not purport to be representative of all voters, but they provided valuable insight into how we should apply the redistricting principles. Although we did not adopt any party’s proposed redistricting plan in its entirety, some proposed elements are reflected in our congressional plan.” Final Order, page 8.

Sixth, the court intentionally included multiple interests in constructing the political districts, some of which prevented maximizing ALANA political presence as presented in the Corrie Plaintiff’s plan. For example, the Corrie plaintiff plan proposed keeping the Tibetan community together, they are now split in two legislative districts. This provides a very strong rationale for elected representatives in both these districts to adequately represent Tibetan interests in the legislature since their path to power was at the expense of maximizing the ALANA/Tibetan representation.

Seventh, the creation of legislative districts where either of the two political parties could capture power depending on voter participation puts the ALANA voter in a critical role in deciding electoral outcomes. The candidates or political parties who best represent ALANA interests could retain long-term political and statewide power.

In the light of points, one to seven above, adequate representation of the ALANA interests is foundational to the new legislative and congressional maps crafted by the Special Redistricting Panel. The ALANA community interests need equitable representation in the laws, actions, and policies implemented by the Executive, Legislative and Congressional segments of Minnesota.

Call to Action

To preserve the hard-won recognition of ALANA interests in the current political districts, a struggle that has spanned over 60 years, we must now take immediate action to preserve and protect these interests. The ALANA Brain Trust and partners should monitor elected officials to ensure adequate political representation – through the support of policies and programs that include the elements below:

1. An intentional effort to make policies and programs inclusive of the ALANA communities.
2. Cultural intelligence integrated in the development and operations of programs and funding.
3. Providing wealth building tools and resources accessible to the ALANA communities (See the Minnesota Solution).
4. Protection of fundamental and constitutional rights.
5. Agencies and staff be rooted in and accessible to the communities they serve.

Current Legislation Session

ALANA communities are more than 20 percent of the population in Minnesota. Invest 20 percent of the $9+ billion surplus or $2 billion dollars to build wealth and close the racial disparity gaps in Minnesota.

$ 1 billion to build the wealth building infrastructure for ALANA entrepreneurs and skill building infrastructure for ALANA workers

$1 billion to build the future ALANA workforce (STEAMD – Science Technology Engineering (including clean energy) Art, Math and Digital technologies) from prek – graduate school.

Corrie Plaintiffs

Lead Organizer – Common Cause Minnesota (Annastacia Belladona Carrera)

Map Expert:  Todd Stump

Attorneys: Brian Dillon, Amy Erickson, Lathrop GPM (Pro Bono work)

Community Maps:  https://ourmapsmn.org/ (May Yang), Monica Hurtado (Voices for Racial Justice)

Common Cause (National): Dan Vicuna, Kathay Feng, Sarah Andre

Plantiffs – Dr. Bruce Corrie, Shelly Diaz, Alberder Gillespie, Xiongpao Lee, Abdirazak Mahboub, Aida Simon, Beatriz Winters, Common Cause, OneMN.org (Brett Buckner), and Voices for Racial Justice (Monica Hurtado).