FRANKFORT — State lawmakers failed to redraw the boundaries of Kentucky's six congressional districts before Tuesday's candidate filing deadline, which means the issue probably will end up in court.
House Speaker Greg Stumbo, D-Prestonsburg, said congressional candidates will run in the state's existing districts. That means someone — either a candidate or a national political party — will probably challenge the constitutionality of Kentucky's districts. State and federal law requires the legislature to redraw congressional lines every 10 years so each district has roughly the same population.
Twenty-three people filed to run in Kentucky's congressional races before the 4 p.m. filing deadline.
House Majority Leader Rocky Adkins, D-Sandy Hook, told House members about 20 minutes after the deadline that a compromise between the Democratic-controlled House and the Republican-controlled Senate could not be reached.
The House and Senate had delayed the original deadline from Jan. 31 to Feb. 7 to give the two sides more time to reach an agreement on new congressional districts.
Stumbo had worked with members of congress on a possible compromise late last week that looked promising, House leaders said. But Senate Majority Leader Robert Stivers said Tuesday afternoon that the two sides appeared to "agree to disagree."
Congressman Ben Chandler, a Democrat from Versailles, will have no challengers in the Democratic primary for the 6th District, which includes Fayette and most surrounding counties. Andy Barr, who narrowly lost to Chandler in 2010, will face Curtis Kenimer of Paris and Patrick Kelly of Lexington in the Republican primary. Randolph Vance of Lexington filed as a write-in candidate.
Five Republicans and two Democrats have filed to run in the 4th Congressional district, an open seat. Congressman Geoff Davis announced earlier this year that he would not seek another term.


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