Kansas Republicans have abandoned a mid-decade redistricting initiative that could have targeted the state's only Democratic member of Congress, even as blue states continue their own efforts to secure more favorable congressional maps ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Republican state House Speaker Dan Hawkins announced Tuesday he doesn't have enough votes to call a special session on redistricting the U.S. House of Representatives. Republicans control both chambers of the Kansas Legislature, but a two-thirds majority is needed to call a special session without permission from Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly.
“Planning a special session will always be an uphill battle with multiple programs, scheduling conflicts and many unseen factors,” Hawkins said in a statement, according to Politicianbut added that state Republicans still “want to talk about redistricting.” (RELATED: 'Spending Our Fucking Money': Read the Harsh Words Voters Had About Newsom's Gerrymandering Gambit)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 1: California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks at the “Yes on Proposition 50” volunteer event at the Los Angeles Convention Center on November 1, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jill Connelly/Getty Images)
Hawkins' office did not respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation's request for comment.
“For months, fringe Republican legislators in Topeka have been plotting with D.C. politicians to silence Kansas voices,” Rep. Sharice Davids, the only Democrat in the state Congress and the target of GOP redistricting efforts, said in a statement. statement on X. “Today we won the first round in this fight against gerrymandering. But their plan to cheat the system is not over yet.”
Republican state Senate President Ty Masterson, who is also currently running for governor, vowed that redistricting will be a “top priority when the Legislature reconvenes in January.”
“Kansas delivered record numbers to President Trump in 2016, 2020 and 2024, and they expect their elected leaders to continue to fight for his America First agenda,” Masterson said in a statement. “That's exactly what we did in the Senate, and that's exactly what we will continue to do. We are not backing down or standing on the sidelines in this fight.”
A push followed in Kansas. President Donald TrumpHe's calling on Republican-led states to redraw their maps to strengthen the party's position in Congress. Texas, Missouri And North Carolina have already responded by creating seven additional GOP-leaning seats between them.
Meanwhile, California voters handed Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom a big election victory. Tuesdayapproving his partisan proposal to create up to five additional Democratic House seats ahead of the midterm elections. As of Wednesday morning, more than 60% of voters approved, according to ballot data. NBC News, after supporters poured 100 million dollars into the campaign to influence the vote.
“California Democrats are working overtime to silence Republicans and steal the House majority,” Masterson said. “Even Gov. Laura Kelly has acknowledged that there are great risks to doing nothing. On that we agree. States across America are rising up, and Kansas will be part of the fight.”
Democrats in Virginia also called a special session in late October to redraw congressional districts, aiming to gain up to three seats before next year's midterm elections.
All content produced by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and unbiased news service, is available free of charge to any legitimate news publisher that can reach a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter's byline and DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our policies or partnerships, please contact us [email protected].
