After Chaos, Drama, and a Circular Firing Squad, Kansas Republicans Override Democrat Governor’s Veto of Redistricting Map – Opinion

Over the veto by Laura Kelly, Democrat governor of Kansas, the Kansas Senate approved a brand new Congressional map. New map may ensure Sharice Davids is the last Democrat to be in Kansas.

The reason for Kelly’s veto was, of course, gerrymandering. Gerrymandering occurs when Republicans set the boundaries of congressional districts. It is not possible for Democrats to gerrymander, according to my knowledge. The redistricting committee cut a lot of the north suburbs of Kansas City out of Davids’ KS-03 and moved them into Jack LaTurner’s KS-02. The net effect was changing Davids’ district from D+4 to R+3 plus the areas she was left with were areas where she hasn’t performed all that well in the past, plus adding some GOP voters from KS-02. Overall, it was very minor considering all that could happen.

via https://t.co/LeN3iidzoA

Both an Old Map and a New One pic.twitter.com/xqt0CFYeW4

— streiff (@streiffredstate) February 9, 2022

It was due for an override vote on the map last night. But it went off track immediately. This is from the Twitter timeline of the Topeka Capital-Journal’s statehouse reporter to give you a flavor of the happenings.

The vote was not attended by Sen. Mike Thompson, R.Shawnee and Sen. Cindy Holscher D.Overland Park. The Senate leadership is trying to locate them and take them there. #KSleg

— Jason Tidd (@Jason_Tidd) February 7, 2022

Senate still awaits absent senators. While some have been allowed to use the bathroom, others can go out to fulfill other legislative obligations.

— Jason Tidd (@Jason_Tidd) February 7, 2022

The point is reached where we can all be one #KSlegJokingly, a lawmaker asked whether the bottle of hand sanitizer in front of him contained alcohol.

— Jason Tidd (@Jason_Tidd) February 7, 2022

Thompson is right now! He votes for yes.

Masterson changes vote to number

— Jason Tidd (@Jason_Tidd) February 7, 2022

The official tally for the tournament is 24-15

Masterson wants to make a motion to reconsider tomorrow.

Over objections from Democrats, Senate Majority Leader Larry Alley moves quickly to adjourn. Corson attempted to raise a point for order but was stopped.

— Jason Tidd (@Jason_Tidd) February 7, 2022

24-15 votes were needed to override the vote. The Democrats defeated the new map by three Republicans. Senate President Ty Masterson switched from YES voting to NO to allow him to bring it back up on the next day. You see Chuck Schumer and Mitch McConnell engage in this move all the time.

Today, the bill was raised.

Steffen and Straub change their votes to aye. This will likely get it 27 votes that Republicans require.

— Jason Tidd (@Jason_Tidd) February 8, 2022

These things are happening quickly. Vote on the Governor’s Veto Override now

— Jason Tidd (@Jason_Tidd) February 8, 2022

The new map was approved.

According to the AP, legal issues will be faced by the map’s new version.

Even if the House overrides Kelly’s veto, the GOP plan is expected to face challenges in federal and possibly state courts. Republicans want to regain the majority in the U.S House, so both sides are closely watching redistricting.

It is impossible to rule out a court challenge being successful. This is especially true when the state supreme courts has a 5-2 Democrat advantage. However, the person bringing the case will have a lot of work ahead. In Rucho vs. Common Cause, the Supreme Court held that federal courts can’t review partisan-gerrymanders. Kansas does not have any districts with a majority of minorities. Davids’ district is 68% white. Even though Davids’ is an enrolled tribal member and a lesbian, that doesn’t give her any special legal standing. In this case, I’ll take the position of Lord St. Vincent when apprising the British Parliament of the relative danger of a French invasion in 1803, “I do not say the French cannot come, I only say they cannot come by sea.”