Kansas’ new Republican-drawn congressional map is legal, court rules

By Joseph Ax

(Reuters) – Kansas’ new Republican-backed congressional map does not violate the point out structure, the state’s best courtroom ruled on Wednesday, a decision that could endanger the state’s only Democratic U.S. consultant in November’s midterm elections.

The point out Supreme Court docket purchase reversed a decreased court docket ruling that had identified the map intentionally and illegally diluted the voting electricity of Democratic and minority voters.

The map splits Wyandotte County, the dwelling of Kansas Metropolis, into two districts, earning Democratic U.S. Consultant Sharice Davids’ seat much more Republican. The state’s other 3 districts are found as solidly Republican. Various civil rights and Democratic-aligned teams filed lawsuits demanding the map in February.

Davids was the first Democrat to win a congressional seat in Kansas in a 10 years when she received in 2018 she is just one of two Native American women to have ever been elected to Congress.

“From rushed hearings to backroom bargains for votes, the redistricting method did not instill a feeling of transparency or assurance,” Davids mentioned in response to the final decision.

“I seem forward to introducing myself to the new voters in the Third District, continuing my do the job to uncover frequent ground and deal with the day to day problems experiencing our neighborhood, and demonstrating all Kansans that to me, their voice issues,” she added.

Republican point out Attorney Normal Derek Schmidt, whose workplace defended the map, stated the choice showed the map was “constitutionally seem.”

Republicans require to flip only five Democratic U.S. Household seats in November to consider in excess of the chamber, letting them to stymie much of President Joe Biden’s agenda.

Below U.S. regulation, congressional districts are redrawn every 10 many years to account for populace changes. In most states, the legislature controls the approach, which can allow lawmakers to manipulate the traces to reward one particular social gathering over one more, a follow regarded as gerrymandering.

5 of the state’s justices have been appointed by a Democrat, two by a Republican.

(Reporting by Joseph Ax Modifying by Aurora Ellis)