Kansas Democrats are feeling optimistic they may finally gain enough seats in the Kansas House and Senate to block the Republicans’ ability to override Gov. Laura Kelly’s veto.
As governor, Kelly has the power to veto legislation she and Democrats find unfavorable, but Republicans can override her veto with a two-thirds majority vote. So, it has long been the Democrats’ goal to gain enough seats in both the House and Senate to break the Republicans’ “supermajority.”
The House is divided among 85 Republicans and 40 Democrats. A two-thirds majority in the House equals 84, meaning Democrats must snatch two seats from Republicans to move the partisan split below the supermajority threshold. Republicans have led the House with a supermajority since 2010.
Over in the Senate, there are 29 Republicans and 11 Democrats. A two-thirds majority would be 27, so Democrats set their sights on claiming three seats. Republicans have operated with a Senate supermajority since the election of 1992.
Gov. Kelly expressed optimism a group of quality Democratic candidates and influence of her $2 million political action committee would break the partisan supermajorities with this election.
“I do know that we have really superb candidates running in a lot of our targeted races. Many of them are based in Johnson County, and I think the road to breaking the supermajority will go through Johnson County,” the governor said. “If we break the supermajority, then it will require leadership in both the House and the Senate to work with us and with the Democrat caucus in their respective chambers,” Kelly said.
House Speaker Dan Hawkins (R – Wichita) is confident as well. He anticipates the GOP would hold onto their House seats and possibly knock off a couple Democrats to pad their margin heading into the 2025 legislative session.
Stay tuned for the results.