Milford Could Join Congressional District Held by Frank [Poll]

Milford could soon be in the Fourth Congressional District, currently represented by Barney Frank (D-Newton).

A week after Gov. Deval Patrick signed off on , the Special Joint Committee on Redistricting released maps Monday 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.

To view the new map (and the old map) see the images on the right.

In the new maps, Frank's district would cover Needham, Medfield and Walpole, which are currently in the state's Ninth District represented by Democrat Stephen Lynch. The district will also take other Norfolk County towns including Plainville, Wrentham, Franklin, Medway (currently in the Third District) and part of Bellingham (currently in the Second District).

Milford and Hopedale (Worcester County) as well as Hopkinton (Middlesex County) will also shift into the Fourth District. Those towns are currently represented by U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern (D-3rd) or U.S. Rep. Richard Neal (D-Springfield). 

Meanwhile, the Fourth District will lose a large part of Southern Bristol County and East Plymouth County, including New Bedford, Dartmouth, Westport, Acushnet, Wareham, Middleborough, Marion, Rochester, Mattapoisett, Halifax and part of Fall River, which will all now be a part of a newly-drawn Ninth District. 

As the Boston Globe reported today, the new Ninth District has created a bit of a snag with two current representatives — South Boston-based U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch and U.S. Rep. William Keating, of Quincy — as the two Democrats could face off against each other for control of a district.