The Kentucky General Assembly completed its first week of work in Frankfort Saturday, approving legislative redistricting maps for the House, Senate and Congress.
If Governor Andy Beshear vetoes the maps, Republicans have the votes in the House and Senate to override him.
Christian County is still split three ways in the House. District 8—represented by Walker Thomas—includes most of Hopkinsville, a portion of Christian and Trigg counties and all of Caldwell County. District 9—represented by Myron Dossett of Pembroke—is a portion of Christian County that includes Pembroke, Oak Grove and Fort Campbell. District 16—represented by Jason Petrie of Elkton—will now include all of Todd and Logan counties and the northeastern Christian County.
Eighth District State Representative Walker Thomas says he’s disappointed to lose Fort Campbell, but looks forward to representing Caldwell County.
Christian County remains in Senate District 3, represented by Senator Whitney Westerfield, but now with Muhlenberg and Caldwell counties. Todd goes to a 32nd District with Logan, Simpson and southern Warren County represented by Senator Mike Wilson of Bowling Green.
Trigg County remains in the 1st District with Lyon, Crittenden, Calloway, Graves, Fulton and Hickman counties.
The proposed congressional redistricting map keeps Christian, Todd and Trigg counties in Kentucky’s 1st District, represented by James Comer, but Muhlenberg and northeastern Logan County are moved into the Second District. The 1st District wraps under the Second and extends northward all the way to Frankfort in the proposal.
Republican Senator Whitney Westerfield of Christian County was among those voting against the congressional map, saying it makes a bad map for the 1st District worse.
Representative Thomas also voted against the congressional map.
The maps have an emergency clause making them effective immediately if they are signed or if the General Assembly overrides a veto, but Westerfield cautions a Supreme Court challenge could come.
We will air Governor Beshear’s State of the Commonwealth Address and comments from local lawmakers at 9 o’clock Sunday morning on Lite Rock 98.7 and online at lite987whop.com.
Here is Keith West with the Legislative Research Commission with a Legislative Week in Review…
