Today marks the first day of Kansas’ legislative session, where state lawmakers are expected to revisit extreme mid-decade gerrymandering. The do-over follows last year’s failed attempt to redraw maps in a way that would kick U.S. Representative Sharice Davids, the state’s only Democrat in D.C., out of Congress.

“Mid-decade gerrymandering is wildly unpopular, unfair, and a slap in the face to all Kansans,” said Davids. “We’ve won some early battles, but extreme politicians have made it clear they’re still willing to cave to Washington extremists to rig the maps. So, the pressure stays on. As I’ve said from day one: voters should choose their representatives, not the other way around.”

Senate President Ty Masterson, who is running for governor and seeking Donald Trump’s endorsement, called redistricting “a top priority when the Legislature reconvenes in January.” Trump, eager to help Republicans retain control of the U.S. House, could intervene in Kansas as he has in other states.

Meanwhile, even as Kansas House Speaker Dan Hawkins acknowledged that there isn’t enough support for redistricting in his chamber yet, he also emphasized that it remains “high on [his] priority list” and is “the right thing to do.”

Background: 

During the 2022 gerrymander, state politicians promised to keep Johnson County whole. But to gain an endorsement from Donald Trump, those same politicians have gone back on their word. After meeting with extreme D.C. politicians, Republicans in the Kansas state legislature approved $460,000 in taxpayer funds for the session. A draft map that splits Johnson County, circulated by KCMO, can be found here.

Davids has faced this fight before. Former Senate Majority Leader Susan Wagle said at the time, “I guarantee you we can draw four Republican congressional maps.” But after the 2022 gerrymander, which was designed to make Kansas’ Third District as Republican-friendly as possible, Davids won the election by 12 percent and was re-elected last year by double digits.

Davids ran to serve the people of Kansas and remains focused on representing them in whatever capacity best allows her to do so. If the unprecedented mid-decade redistricting moves forward, all options remain on the table to ensure Kansans’ voices are heard.