kevin-freeman

On Air

Kevin Freeman

Monday - Friday 12:00 AM to 5:00 AM

KS Supreme Court upholds redistricting map

KS Supreme Court upholds redistricting map

KS Supreme Court upholds redistricting map

By the Associated Press

Kansas’ highest court has upheld a Republican redistricting law that makes it harder for the only Democrat in the state’s congressional delegation to win reelection.

The state Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to declare for the first time that the Kansas Constitution forbids overly partisan gerrymandering.

Democrats argued that the map was drawn to help Republicans unseat Democratic U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids in the 3rd District in the Kansas City area, while Republicans called it a fair map. It split the Kansas City area between two districts and put Lawrence in the 1st District with central and western Kansas.

Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt issued a statement after the ruling:

“Today’s decisions confirm that the legislative and congressional reapportionments of Kansas enacted by the Legislature this year are constitutionally sound. We have successfully defended every Kansan’s right to equal protection of the law in exercising their right to vote, as well as the public’s right to establish new districts through their elected representatives. It is regrettable that Kansas taxpayers have had to bear the unnecessary cost of successfully defending the duly enacted congressional reapportionment against multiple lawsuits backed by out-of-state activists. I am grateful for the expeditious manner in which the court announced the outcome of the cases, and this year’s candidate filings and election preparations can now proceed.”

Sharon Brett, legal director for the ACLU of Kansas, also issued a statement:

“We’re obviously very disappointed for our clients.  Equal protection under our state’s constitution is supposed to mean something. But as a result of this decision, minority voters and Democratic voters will have their voices diluted for the next ten years. The ACLU of Kansas will never stop fighting for the rights of all Kansans, and this decision won’t change that fact.”

Attorneys for the plaintiffs said they would not appeal.

Recommended Posts

Loading...