The process to redraw the state’s Congressional district map may well be headed to court.
On Thursday, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly vetoed the so-called Ad Astra map that moved Lyon, Chase, Morris and Wabaunsee counties from the First District to the Second, joining Coffey and Osage counties. The map also split parts of Wabaunsee and Douglas counties, moving them from the Third District to the Second — and that’s what had Democrats and certain voting groups upset.
Republicans who developed the map say they wanted the adjustments because it had no population deviation between districts, “preserves existing district cores and groups together communities of interest.” They also say the Ad Astra map would keep all four current members of Congress in their current seats — which each would have won had the map been in place during the election cycle two years ago.
A two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate is needed to override, but based on the initial votes, neither chamber has the votes to reverse Governor Kelly’s veto. This would move a decision to the federal court level.
