IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Friday, January 9, 2026
CONTACT:
Lauren Fitzgerald
[email protected]
(785) 249-6923
Kansans Say “No New Maps!” — Kansas Legislature Must Honor That in Upcoming Session
TOPEKA — As the Kansas Legislature prepares to convene its regular session next week, the Kansas Fair Maps Coalition urges lawmakers to honor the clear message from Kansans: no new maps. The Coalition collected thousands of signatures, postcards, and emails from citizens across every Senate district and nearly every House district, all urging lawmakers to stop any redistricting push and honor the current maps.
“Kansans spoke loud and clear: they want their elected officials to focus on lowering costs, improving healthcare, and protecting rural hospitals — not manipulating district lines for political gain,” said Laurel Burchfield, spokesperson for the Kansas Fair Maps Coalition. “Redrawing maps mid-decade is a distraction from the real issues facing families across our state. It’s time our leaders listen.”
Despite widespread public opposition and a failed push for a special session last year, Kansas legislators are reportedly considering introducing mid-decade redistricting proposals during the regular session, which begins January 12.
This move would ignore the will of voters who have made it clear through petitions, town halls, and public statements that they do not want congressional district boundaries redrawn outside the standard decennial process.
In mid-October, Kansas Fair Maps and its coalition partners rallied in Johnson County with 250 local citizens who opposed this gerrymandering scheme. They will continue engaging voters, educating communities, and standing up for fair representation for every Kansan before, during, and after the start of the regular legislative session.
According to recent news reports, Speaker of the House Dan Hawkins said “Kansas Republicans don’t have the votes to gerrymander the state’s congressional maps in 2026” [The Beacon, Kansas, 1/5/2026]. However, the Kansas Fair Maps coalition will continue to communicate with Kansans and elected leaders throughout the session.
“We hope that leaders in the Legislature will listen to Kansans and not redraw congressional maps,” Burchfield said. “We will remain active and vigilant until the session has ended.”
These efforts were echoed by business leaders, civic organizations, and chambers of commerce — including the Overland Park Chamber and the Greater Kansas City Chamber — all of whom publicly opposed splitting up communities like Johnson County for partisan advantage. Find their statements here.
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