By KRWG News
New Mexico – A legislative panel plans to travel across the state in July and August to seek public comment on proposals for drawing new boundaries of New Mexico's three congressional districts.
One of those proposals would combine the cities of Rio Rancho and Albuquerque into a revised 1st Congressional District. Republican-leaning Rio Rancho currently is in the heavily Democratic 3rd District of northern New Mexico.
Democrats hold the 1st and 3rd district seats.
The Legislature's redistricting committee on Monday reviewed several plans for redrawing congressional district boundaries. The proposals were developed by an Albuquerque research and polling company that serves as the Legislature's redistricting consultant.
The committee plans public hearings in Clovis, Roswell, Las Cruces, Gallup, Farmington, Albuquerque and Rio Rancho.
Lawmakers expect to hold a special session in September on redistricting.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.