Four Districts: The Constant Number
Since the 1990 census, Kansas has been allocated four seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. The 2020 census results did not change this fundamental count, confirming that the Sunflower State would continue to have four congressional districts for the following decade, including the 2026 midterm elections. While the number itself is stable, the boundaries of these districts are not. Every ten years, the state legislature is tasked with redrawing the map to ensure each district has a nearly equal population, a process known as redistricting. Historically, Kansas has had as many as eight districts, but population shifts over the last century have gradually reduced its representation.
The Contentious 'Ad Astra 2' Map
The current congressional map, which will be used in the
2026 elections, was born from a fierce political battle in 2022. The Republican-controlled legislature drew a map, dubbed 'Ad Astra 2', that prompted a veto from Democratic Governor Laura Kelly. Lawmakers successfully overrode her veto, enacting the map into law in February 2022. The map's most controversial feature was the division of the Kansas City metropolitan area. For the first time in decades, it split Wyandotte County, a Democratic and minority-majority stronghold, between two separate districts. This move also carved the city of Lawrence into the vast, rural 1st District. Critics immediately filed lawsuits, arguing the map was a partisan and racial gerrymander designed to dilute the power of Democratic voters. A district court judge initially agreed, striking down the map, but the Kansas Supreme Court ultimately reversed that decision, ruling that the plaintiffs had not proven the map violated the state constitution. As a result, the 'Ad Astra 2' map remains in place.
A Look at the Four Districts
The redistricting fight created four distinct political territories. The 1st District, often called 'The Big First,' is geographically massive, covering more than half the state and now including the liberal city of Lawrence. Despite this addition, it remains a deeply Republican district. The 2nd District covers much of eastern Kansas, including the state capital, Topeka, and is also reliably Republican. The 4th District is anchored by Wichita and its surrounding areas, forming another safe seat for the GOP. The primary battleground is the 3rd District. Encompassing the affluent Kansas City suburbs in Johnson County and surrounding areas, this is the state's lone competitive district and its only one held by a Democrat, Sharice Davids. The 2022 redistricting made her seat more challenging by removing some Democratic-leaning areas of Kansas City while adding more conservative rural counties.
Why It Matters for 2026
The 2026 midterm elections in Kansas will test the durability of this map. With three of the four districts considered safe for Republicans, all eyes will be on the 3rd District. The race there will serve as a referendum on whether a Democrat can continue to win in a suburban district that was intentionally redrawn to be more competitive for the GOP. The outcome will not only determine the partisan makeup of the state's congressional delegation—currently three Republicans and one Democrat—but will also be seen as a bellwether for national trends in suburban voting. For Kansas voters, these district lines define who speaks for them in Washington, D.C., and the 2022 redistricting process ensured that the political geography of the state will remain a subject of intense debate for years to come.
