By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — University of Kansas political science professor Patrick Miller sees a court challenge in the future if the map that passed out of both houses of the Kansas Legislature regarding Congressional reapportionment ultimately is either not vetoed or is ultimately overridden.
"If the legislature was trying to make a map to avoid any lawsuits over race, this was not the map," Miller said. "One of the things that has surprised me about the process is how much easier they have made to sue them over grounds on race, when it comes to redrawing the maps."
The Voting Rights Act on the federal level makes it illegal for states and local jurisdictions to use maps that deny a minority group an equal opportunity to elect their preferred candidates. The argument will likely be that dividing Wyandotte County from Johnson County and putting it in the 2nd District is racially motivated.
"Particularly, when it comes to the kind of allegations that you're seeing with this map about dividing up minority communities in ways that dilute their influence," Miller said. "The state courts, as well, will be an avenue to watch, not just federal courts. The state does have redistricting standards that can play a role in how the legislature does redistrict."
Republicans are arguing that the growth of the population in Wyandotte County makes keeping it with Johnson County mathematically unworkable. More than ten other maps were offered as amendments between the two houses, but only the Ad Astra 2 map survived to a final vote.
Governor Kelly has not said whether she will veto this map.