McGovern Could Be Grafton's New Rep

Grafton will have a new representative in Congress if new district lines are approved.

The proposed new plan moves Grafton into the newly renamed 2nd Congressional District, currently represented by U.S. Rep. James McGovern.

Grafton is currently represented by U.S. Rep Richard Neal.

A week after Gov. Deval Patrick signed off on , the Special Joint Committee on Redistricting released maps today re-drawing the state's congressional districts, which have shrunk from 10 to nine districts due to population shifts.

For approval, the new districts must be adopted by the full House and Senate before Nov. 16.

At an Aug. 16 selectmen's meeting, George Peterson, the state representative whose district includes his hometown of Grafton, said

Grafton would be better represented by someone in central Massachusetts rather than the western portion of the state, he told selectmen.

Peterson encouraged selectmen to write to officials in support of moving Grafton to a Congressional district more aligned with Worcester County.

Grafton is currently served by U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, a Democrat based in Springfield. Peterson said Neal has served Grafton well, but having someone closer to town and in a district more aligned with central Massachusetts would make more sense.

McGovern's proposed new district is based in Worcester and covers much of central Massachusetts, including the Blackstone Valley.