Kansas Senate Overrides Gov. Laura Kelly’s Veto of Proposed Congressional Map

The Kansas Senate voted 27-11 on Tuesday to override Gov. Laura Kelly’s (D) veto of the legislature’s proposed congressional map. 

Tuesday’s successful override vote comes one day after the state senate initially failed to override the governor’s veto. On Monday, the Kansas Senate fell three votes shy of the 27 votes required to override the governor’s veto.

Kansas Senate, in 27-11 vote, overrode Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly's veto of Republican congressional map.

Republicans needed all 27 votes.

Vote came day after 1st attempt to override fell short.https://t.co/2umu2hIDY6

— Greg Giroux (@greggiroux) February 8, 2022

After the governor’s veto, Kansas Republican Party officials released a statement criticizing Kelley for vetoing the proposed map “just hours after the ACLU told her to.”

This isn’t the first time the Legislature has had to step up to protect Kansans from Laura Kelly’s partisan agenda. It is no coincidence she pulled out the veto pen just hours after the ACLU told her to. It’s clear she is beholden to New York’s special interests. The Legislature is bound to do what is best for Kansans, and we won’t back down from that responsibility.

The proposed “Ad Astra 2” map would split up the state’s third congressional district. That area is home to the state’s sole Democrat congresswoman, Sharice Davids (D-KS). 

Gov. Kelly vetoed Senate Bill 355 over concerns that the proposed map negatively impacted racial minorities. She said:

Without explanation, this map shifts 46% of the Black population and 33% of the Hispanic population out of the 3rd Congressional District by dividing the Hispanic neighborhoods of Quindaro Bluffs, Bethel-Welborn, Strawberry Hill, Armourdale and others from Argentine, Turner and the rest of Kansas City, Kansas south of I-70.

The bill will now go to the Kansas state House for final approval.