KY House Republicans release proposed redistricting maps; big changes for Lexington
For the first time in history, Kentucky House Republicans presented new House district maps over which they had control on Thursday.
House Speaker David Osborne, R-Prospect, said that the new maps conform to population requirements based on the newly-published U.S. census figures; redistricting is required to take place every ten years due to shifts documented by the census.
“We worked to make districts more compact, while still maintaining as much continuity as possible for constituents,” Osborne said. “We’ve accomplished those goals. This plan does not split a single precinct in the entire state. By comparison, redistricting plans passed by previous general assemblies included as many as 153 divided precincts.”
If their caucus stays unified, Republicans could have complete control over the outcome as their 75-25 majority is veto-proof; they also have a veto-proof supermajority in the senate.
The maps pit four sets of incumbents against each other, four Republicans and four Democrats.
Republican house members Norma Kirk McCormick and Bobby McCool in Eastern Kentucky are now in the same district; same goes for West Kentucky Republicans Jim Gooch and Lynn Bechler.
The stage is also set for four Louisville area Democrats, all of them women, to face each other. Lisa Willner and McKenzie Cantrell now share a district, as well as Josie Raymond and Mary Lou Marzian.
Fayette County used to be home to all or portions of 10 house districts; that number is now 9. Lexington’s home county lost its connection to Woodford County and Bourbon County while adding districts connected to Clark County and Jessamine County. The number of districts that exist entirely within Fayette County shrunk from six to five.
Osborne said that retiring Rep. Jerry Miller, R-Eastwood, “spearheaded” the redistricting effort.
Four districts of the state’s 100 are now majority-minority, according to Osborne, whereas there are only two now.
Osborne added that house leadership met with Democrats and asked them for a proposed map, which was submitted last week.
Osborne said on Thursday that he expects the house to vote to delay the filing deadline for 2022 elections to Jan. 25; the deadline as of today is Jan. 7.
He added that GOP leaders want to pass the house map by next Saturday, Jan. 8.
Osborne said he expects state senate maps and U.S. Congressional District maps to be released on Tuesday. A spokesperson for Kentucky State Senate leadership said that senate map details will be released next week.
Democrats Respond
House Minority Leader Joni Jenkins, D-Shively, told the Herald-Leader that she had not seen the Republicans’ map in advance of Thursday’s press conference.
In a press conference held shortly after the maps were unveiled, Jenkins called Republicans’ process “an attempt at fake transparency.” She complained that the maps were released so close to the New Year’s Eve holiday, a day that nonpartisan state staffers had off, and that more granular, precinct-level mapping was not made available to Democrats.
She said that Democrats would look “very closely” at the constitutionality of the maps and may offer an alternative in amendment or bill form.
“From what we’ve seen there are some challenges for some of our Democrat incumbents,” Jenkins said.
In response to a question about the population shifting out of Eastern Kentucky and more towards urban centers, Minority Whip Angie Hatton, D-Whitesburg, said she thought too many counties in her home region were split. The district she represents contains a split portion of Harlan County.
Jenkins also said that she was concerned about a “dilution of minority influence” in Lexington’s 77th District, which currently covers much of Lexington’s historically Black eastern portion of downtown.
Minority Caucus Chair Derrick Graham, D-Frankfort, said that he was “very disappointed” in Franklin County getting carved up more than it had been, with the 56th District taking a larger swath of the county’s northeast. He said that he thought the move would benefit Rep. Daniel Fister, R-Versailles, who won a close 2020 race.
Jenkins ended noting that it wasn’t unlikely for maps to change after they’re proposed. After the 2010 census, Republicans in the house successfully challenged a Democrat-drawn map.
“As we have seen in other redistricting times, sometimes the first map doesn’t make it all the way through,” Jenkins said. “… It still has to pass. They have 75 people and I don’t know that all 75 members are happy today.”
The current map
Herald-Leader reporter Jack Brammer contributed to this article.
This story was originally published December 30, 2021 at 1:52 PM.
