Today, Representative Sharice Davids (D-KS-03) gave remarks addressing the failed effort by Kansas Republican leaders to collect enough signatures for a special legislative session aimed at gerrymandering the state’s congressional maps.
Although this first attempt fell short, Republican lawmakers have already announced plans to try again when the regular legislative session begins. Senate President Ty Masterson called redistricting “a top priority when the Legislature reconvenes in January,” and House Speaker Dan Hawkins said Republicans still “wish to have a conversation about redistricting.”
WATCH: Davids speaks on the continued fight against mid-decade gerrymandering in Kansas
Background:
State Republican legislators were circulating a petition to call a special session beginning this week to gerrymander Kansas’ maps by splitting up Johnson County. The Kansas Senate reached the two-thirds threshold for the special session, but the Kansas House did not, according to Hawkins. Now, these lawmakers plan to make another attempt during the upcoming regular legislative session in January.
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 counties, 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.