PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The top Republican in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives has formally filed a challenge to the new state legislative maps.
House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre, Mifflin counties) is challenging the constitutionality of the proposed maps.
Legislative maps get redrawn every 10 years based on census data.
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Benninghoff has called the maps an illegal gerrymander, but the five-person Pennsylvania Legislative Reapportionment Commission gave the maps the green light with a 3-2 vote in December, then final approval with a 4-1 vote earlier this month. Benninghoff had the only final vote against the maps.
Bennighoff has filed with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court asking the maps be ruled unconstitutional for several reasons.
He argued there are are unnecessary splits of municipalities, and population deviation which his filing argues is a violation of the one-person, one-vote requirement.
In addition to asking the state Supreme Court to send the maps back to the drawing board, Benninghoff is also asking the court to require the current maps, the ones put in place in 2012, to be used in this year’s election.
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Benninghoff says 10 years ago, the Court made a similar decision when the proposed map was challenged.
The request comes as the Pennsylvania Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments on the proposed Congressional map on Friday.
While congressional and legislative districts remain in limbo, the Pennsylvania primary is scheduled for May 17.
