FRANKFORT, Ky. (Dec. 1, 2022) – Below is a statement from Kentucky Democratic Party Chair Colmon Elridge on the party filing a notice with the court that it will appeal the circuit court opinion in its redistricting case. On Wednesday, KDP attorneys sent a motion to transfer to the Kentucky Supreme Court asking the high court to take up the case immediately.
“We are continuing our fight to stop the partisan gerrymandering of the GOP supermajority, and are appealing this case to stop extreme Republicans from slicing up cities and counties every 10 years to put political gain above the best interests of Kentuckians.
“The court was clear these districts were partisan gerrymanders, which dilute the votes of hundreds of thousands of Kentuckians. As evidenced by the election, the Republican majority worked behind closed doors to draw districts that cut up communities for partisan gain to beat incumbents they couldn’t beat on a fair playing field.
“If this isn't stopped now, Republicans will only grow bolder in their partisan gerrymandering in coming decades, allowing Frankfort politicians to decide who they represent, picking easier paths to power and reelection, rather than allowing Kentuckians to decide who represents them.”
The motion to transfer includes these lines from the circuit court opinion:
“The Franklin Circuit found that ‘it is abundantly clear that HB 2 is a partisan gerrymander’ and ‘SB 3 is a partisan gerrymander aimed at diluting the Democratic vote share.’ (Franklin Circuit Court Order, attached as Exhibit 1 at 40, 43-44).”
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