Senate votes 28 to 8 in favor of GOP-backed proposal
by Noah Taborda, Kansas Reflector
Topeka — A panel of state representatives approved Friday an updated proposal to redraw Kansas House districts that makes changes in western Kansas but ignores testimony urging changes in Leavenworth County and surrounding areas.
The updated Freestate 3 map would see many of the incumbents drawn into the same district under a previous iteration remain together, but a dramatic change out west would get rid of the district currently occupied by Rep. Tatum Lee, a Ness City Republican, pairing her with Rep. Jim Minnix, R-Scott City. Rep. Kyle Hoffman, R-Coldwater, and Rep. Boyd Orr, R-Fowler, are no longer together in the same district.
The amendment would keep several counties whole, something Rep. Adam Smith wanted to be prioritized in the process. He said these changes kept confusion down during elections where people are used to one representative for a clean group of counties.
“Also, it might sound a little bit strange for some of our more urban counterparts, but in western Kansas, we like to follow our highway systems that make it efficient for people to get around,” the Weskan Republican said. “The very first time I saw this, I played around with Google Earth a little bit, and (the 116th District) goes all the way from Copeland to Wellington. That is almost six full counties, and I believe that would be the longest, most stretched-out district in the history of the state.”
The amendment also makes changes in Johnson County. Another amendment brought by Smith would make a change to a district in Hutchinson.
Unchanged in the brand new 125 House districts are areas in Leavenworth County, where several members of the public expressed concerns. In the map, the city is still divided and a finger runs from one end of the county to relocate one precinct from the center of Leavenworth into another district.
Some opponents argued the map was grossly gerrymandered to improve the standing of Republican House redistricting chairman Chris Croft.
The map, introduced earlier this week, pairs House Speaker Ron Ryckman with Rep. Megan Lynn, R-Olathe, in the 49th House District. Ryckman has held office since 2012 and is in his third term as speaker.
Ryckman’s current district is trending less conservative. Ryckman won reelection by five points over a Democrat challenger in 2020, but in 2016 that margin was 23 points.
“The gerrymandering of Leavenworth needs to be stopped, with population numbers adjusted through movement of the southern or western boundaries, not through cherry picking the one precinct that is a thorn in Rep. Proctor’s side,” said Jeffery Howards, chairman of the Leavenworth County Democratic Party in testimony Wednesday.
Across the rotunda Thursday, legislators approved Republican-backed Senate maps that would dramatically alter Shawnee County and the northeast part of Kansas. Under the plan, Topeka would gain a fourth Senate seat that would run along Interstate 70 and rope in part of northwest Lawrence.
The three senators who represent Shawnee County currently will add other parts of eastern Kansas counties to make up for the new district. It is possible under the plan that all four senators could reside outside Shawnee County.
Critics argue it unfairly dilutes the voting power of one of the state’s largest cities, but supporters say this would better represent the left-leaning parts of the county. The measure passed 28 to 8 with a handful of Democrats and Republicans opposing the map.
“I have said how the western Kansas voice is being eroded and it continues to be eroded by maps like this,” said Sen. Alicia Straub, R-Ellinwood. “Without sufficient time to propose thoughtful amendments to this, I absolutely cannot support a map that’s neither transparent, nor honest.”
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