Locals call the plan “outrageous,” “undemocratic,” and “pure politics.”

A new KCUR report highlights growing backlash from Johnson County residents as Kansas Republican legislators push a mid-decade gerrymander that would split up Johnson County in an attempt to silence voters.

Just three years ago, these same Republican leaders promised to keep Johnson County whole, calling it the “core of the 3rd District.” Now they’re breaking that promise to hold onto power — a move residents, business leaders, and even conservatives say would hurt the entire state.

Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson again tried to distance himself from the process, saying, “I’m not drawing this map.” He previously noted that “a group of federal redistricting experts” would develop the map — leaving open the possibility that extreme voices with no connection to Kansas could decide who represents Kansans.

State Republican politicians are circulating a petition to call a special session beginning November 7 to gerrymander Kansas’ maps. Masterson announced recently that the Kansas Senate has reached the two-thirds threshold for a special session. While the Kansas House has not yet met that requirement, Republicans in the state legislature approved $460,000 in taxpayer funds for this special session.


Below are key quotes from the story by Zane Irwin:

• “When the Republican-dominated Kansas Legislature drew new congressional maps three years ago, lawmakers took the advice of local business leaders and chose not to split Johnson County across multiple districts.”

• “The political decision that was made based on all the input is that the core of the 3rd district is Johnson County… It has never been divided.” — Senate President Ty Masterson, 2022

• “Dwight Nelson, a retiree living in the southern Johnson County town of Stillwell, did not vote for [Sharice] Davids. He said he supports President Trump … Nevertheless, Nelson said he’s against either party redistricting for partisan gain … ‘I don’t like the idea of trying to split it up at all … I just like it to be one unified area.’”

• “Since taking the 3rd District seat in 2019, Davids’ office said she has won Johnson County $35 million in federal grants to pay for infrastructure improvements. ‘Johnson County is, in a lot of ways, thriving,’ said Rep. Sharice Davids. ‘Splitting the county would add a level of complexity that’s not necessary.’”

• “If you divide us between congressional districts, you just create artificial divides that don’t need to be there.” — Kevin Walker, Overland Park Chamber of Commerce