Wichita State professor to examine redistricting, 2026 elections at Newton library

Wichita State University political scientist Brian Amos will present "The Redistricting Wars and the 2026 Elections" at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 5, at Newton Public Library, 223 E. Seventh St. Amos is an associate professor whose research focuses on legislative redistricting and the effects of geography on elections.

Kansas voters will use the congressional and state legislative maps adopted in 2022 for this year's elections. The Kansas secretary of state's office lists the maps as governing elections from 2022 through 2030. The state's congressional map, known as Ad Astra 2, was challenged as a partisan and racial gerrymander, but the Kansas Supreme Court allowed it to remain in effect in 2022, and the U.S. Supreme Court declined to review the case in 2023.

According to the library's announcement, the program is free and open to the public. Readers can contact the library at 316-283-2890 or library@newtonplks.org for more details.

The talk is the fourth installment of "Connected Citizens," the library's five-part civic engagement series. Earlier programs covered voting rights and election administration in Harvey County, misinformation in the age of artificial intelligence, and ways Kansans can connect with state lawmakers.

The series will conclude Oct. 12 with "Local Elections: Why They Matter and How to Run," featuring former Harvey County Commissioner Chip Westfall and Harvey County Clerk Rick Piepho. Amos also co-directs Wichita State's Institute for Kansas Elections with political scientist Alexandra Middlewood; the lab publishes data and analysis on Kansas elections and voters.

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