Kansans speak out against redistricting in Johnson County

TOPEKA (KSNT) — Johnson County voters are protesting against redistricting efforts that could divide the county into multiple districts.

Hundreds gathered at the Powell Community Center in Mission, Kansas on Tuesday, Oct. 14. Their goal is to stand up to Republican lawmakers who are trying to draw new congressional maps in Kansas.

Republicans are hoping to redraw the map to oust Democratic U.S. Representative Sharice Davids from her seat. To do this, it would likely require splitting up the left leaning Johnson County voters into two, or even three separate districts.

Chris Wilson, a local pastor from Olathe, said it would hurt the community.

"There's already a sense of unity in Johnson County, and so it would break up a sense of unity that's here," Wilson said. "As a person that's a faith leader, I would see people in our same church from different districts which seems insane."

Additionally, some worry that if Johnson County is split up, Republican representatives would make no effort to listen to voters.

"Johnson County will go from being one of the political highlights of Kansas to being a non-entity because everyone will have one little piece of it and if they are not aligned with JOCO politics, they'll just stay away," said Colin McRoberts, who will be running for the state's first congressional seat next year. "That representation just evaporates overnight, and the political power of Johnson County evaporates overnight."

Currently, Kansas lawmakers are passing around a petition that would call the legislature into a special session with the goal of redistricting the state. Senator Cindy Holscher has confirmed the petition only needs 12 more signatures in the Kansas House to launch the session, which Republicans hope will begin on Nov. 7.

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