It is nothing short of jaw-dropping. As I read and re-read the decision in the early morning hours, I wondered if I was really awake or just dreaming. The Court's State House of Representatives map dramatically reshuffles the entire political card deck -- everywhere throughout the state. It creates 25 open House seats. And with no regard for incumbents, it leaves up to 100 legislators (before retirements) facing off against one another for re-election.
The Court has sent a clear message to the do-nothing Kansas Republican legislature. If it is going to waste the Court's time by failing to resolve its decennial duty of redistricting, incumbents will pay a price. It should be a clear incentive to future legislators to resolve redistricting instead of occupying the Court's time.
Secretary of State Kris Kobach is enjoined from accepting any paperwork regarding previous candidate filings. Instead, it requires that all candidate filings begin anew under the redrawn district lines.
The Court made no mention of changing the filing deadline, which is currently noon, Monday, June 11. This may change, but it hasn't yet.
If you are a candidate, aspiring candidate or county chair, the Kansas political landscape you woke up to this morning looks nothing like the one you thought you knew before you went to bed last night. A big job of filing candidates in the new districts stands before us. Paul Davis, Anthony Hensley and Joan Wagnon need your help. All hands on deck!
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