Kentucky state Senate and Congressional redistricting maps introduced and passed through committee

The proposed redistricting maps for the state Senate and Kentucky Congressional districts were introduced in bill form and passed by the Senate State and Local Government Committee Wednesday. The House and Senate are planning to pass all map proposals by Saturday.

The new Senate map proposal is filed under Senate Bill 2 and is co-sponsored by Senate President Robert Stivers and Sen. Robby Mills. The plan does not pit any incumbents against each other, but makes some changes to districts based on population shifts over the last 10 years.

Both Stivers and Mills noted large population shifts out of the eastern and western parts of the state and into central and northern Kentucky, which is why many of the changes were made. The cosponsors said they have worked hard to ensure the fewest number of counties are split up in any way but because of population, five high population counties, including Fayette, Jefferson, Warren, Boone and Kenton, will have some splits.

Some shifts to the Fayette County area makes changes to the 12^th District, where there is currently a competitive GOP primary to replace retiring Sen. Alice Forgy Kerr. The proposed district would now mean that two of the individuals running in that primary would no longer reside in the district, making them ineligible to represent the area.

Another notable change is in the 7^th District, where first term incumbent Adrienne Southworth would keep her home county of Anderson, but exchanges Franklin, Owen, Gallatin and Woodford for Shelby, Henry and a portion of Jefferson. Franklin, Owen and Gallatin would move to Senate District 20, currently held by the retiring Sen. Paul Hornback.

Warren County has been one district by itself up to this point. Under the proposed plan, the county would be split into three districts, the 32^nd (represented by Senate Majority Whip Mike Wilson, who resides in Warren), the 9^th (represented by Senate President Pro Tem David Givens, who resides in Green County) and the 16^th District (represented by Sen. Max Wise, who resides in Taylor County). Each of those districts will also include other counties as well to meet the population goals set out by the group.

Some other changes came in Jefferson County districts, as well as a new 6^th District, comprised of parts of Jefferson, Oldham and Trimble Counties. The rest of the former 6^th District territory, which has been represented by retiring Sen. C. B. Embry, would be divided by Muhlenberg County to the 3^rd District, Hopkins County to the 4^th District, and Butler and Ohio Counties to the 5th District.

Senate Bill 2 passed the committee 8-2 and now moves to the Senate floor for its 2^nd reading and a planned vote Thursday.

The committee also took up and passed the newly proposed Congressional map, Senate Bill 3.

Under the new plan, the 1^st District, represented by Congressman James Comer, would stretch from Fulton County in the West to Clinton County in the East and also include areas up to Franklin and Anderson counties.

And Rep. Andy Barr’s 6^th District would no longer include Franklin County, but instead would be comprised of the Lexington area and more of eastern Kentucky, due to population shifts.

Stivers said the current map is one that has existed since 1992 with minor changes, that the new proposal reflects population changes, and that all districts are numerically equal in terms of population.

Senate Bill 3 also passed 8-2 out of the committee and now moves to the Senate floor.

Stay tuned to The Bottom Line for more updates on redistricting and other issues throughout the 2022 session.