The filing deadline for Kentucky’s congressional races this year is being delayed once again because of differences between state lawmakers over how to redraw the six U.S. House districts. The deadline had already been extended by one week, to Feb. 7.
But the
Louisville Courier-Journal reported Monday that it now appears it will be delayed for another few days while Democrats
— who control the state House
— and Republicans
— who control the state Senate
— continue their negotiations aimed at settling on a plan that’s acceptable to both chambers.
“We don’t want to extend it any further than we have to,” House Speaker Greg Stumbo told the Courier-Journal. “It’s time we got this behind us.”
According to the Courier-Journal, Stumbo said a new proposal has been sent to the Senate that he believes could break the impasse. But that remains to be seen.
“Everybody’s tired,” Senate Majority Floor Leader Robert Stivers said.
The negotiations over redistricting, a requirement every 10 years because of new census population adjustments, have been going on for over a month. So far, the Democratic House has passed a plan that makes four out of six of the districts more Democratic.
The Republican Senate, meanwhile, has responded with its own plan making districts held by incumbent U.S. House Democrats more difficult to compete in. Republicans currently hold four of the six seats making up the state’s U.S. House delegation.
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