KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas Legislature is one step closer to convening for a special session focused on “redistricting and other time-sensitive issues.”
Senate President Ty Masterson announced Monday that enough signatures have been collected from Senate Republicans to meet the two-thirds majority, as required under the Kansas Constitution.
The next step would rely on two-thirds approval from the House of Representatives.
"We're sending a clear message: we're ready to get it done," Masterson said in a news release. "We look forward to working our agenda to make Kansas and America great again."
Sunday afternoon, state representatives and voters voiced their concerns over midcycle redistricting at a town hall in Overland Park.
"Redistricting is not what the people are asking for. What the people are asking for are things like access to affordable housing, access to affordable health care and child care, and ensuring our schools are funded," said Democratic Sen. Cindy Holscher, who is also a Kansas gubernatorial candidate.
Lawrence voter Pancho Metz said Kansas’ last redistricting effort in 2022 made him feel like his voice was diminished.
"It's just not good policy, right?" he said. "We know that what's been passed isn't popular, and so instead of addressing that, they're trying to cheat the system."
The 2022 effort attempted to target Democratic U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, KS-District 3, who still won in 2022 and 2024. In response to Masterson's news, Davids said her constituents deserve "fairness, not backroom deals."
“You can’t change the rules mid-fight just because you’re afraid you can’t win — yet that’s exactly what extreme Republicans in Topeka are doing,” Davids said in a statement. “This is a blatant attempt to silence Kansas voters and protect their own political power. Kansans deserve fairness, not backroom deals influenced by D.C. to hurt Kansans.”
Senate Democratic leader Dinah Sykes responded similarly.
“It’s clear that at least 27 of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are comfortable taking $460,000 from the state general fund for a redistricting special session that Kansans are not calling for," Sykes said. "Kansans are concerned about the cost of groceries, access to health care, property taxes, and rising political violence. And they deserve elected officials who are focused on addressing those issues, not scoring political points with the White House."
Kansas Republicans’ push to redistrict midcycle follows GOP-led redistricting efforts across the country, including across the state line.
The Missouri Legislature approved a new congressional district map in early September. However, it has been challenged as “unconstitutional.”
Lawmakers at Sunday's town hall in Overland Park said with enough signatures, the special session would begin Nov. 7 and would last approximately four days.
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