FRANKFORT, Ky. — Four sets of Kentucky House incumbents – split equally among Republican and Democratic lawmakers – would be placed into the same districts under a redistricting plan unveiled by House GOP leaders Thursday.

Under the proposed map, two sets of rural GOP lawmakers would be paired with each other in newly drawn districts, while two pairs of urban Democrats – all four of them women – would be placed in the same Louisville districts. Those incumbents would face off in the 2022 spring primary, if the proposal wins legislative approval and the lawmakers decide to seek reelection.

The new boundaries for the 100-member chamber also would create two additional districts where the majority of voters would represent ethnic and racial minority populations, House Speaker David Osborne said.

Assuming the maps pass, the representatives who would have to face off against each other in 2022 primaries are:

• Republican Reps. Norma Kirk-McCormick (District 93) and Bobby McCool (District 97) in eastern Kentucky;
• Republican Reps. Lynn Bechler (District 4) and Jim Gooch Jr. (District 12) in western Kentucky;
• Democratic Reps. Josie Raymond (District 31) and Mary Lou Marzian (District 34) in Jefferson County;
• Democratic Reps. McKenzie Cantrell (District 38) and Lisa Willner (District 35) in Jefferson County. 

The long-awaited remapping plan revealed by Osborne comes days before lawmakers convene next week for the start of their 2022 session. Redistricting looms as the top priority in the opening week. Redistricting plans for congressional and state Senate districts haven’t yet been revealed. Republicans hold supermajorities in both Kentucky legislative chambers.

Redistricting bills will be put on a fast track. Legislators are likely to be in session on Saturday, Jan. 8, to wrap up the work and send the new maps to Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear, Osborne said.

The new House district map would not divide any precinct in the state, he said.

“We tried to draw districts as compactly as we possibly could,” Osborne said at a news conference.

Osborne said lawmakers will likely meet next Saturday to get the maps passed on to Gov. Andy Beshear.

Redistricting plans for congressional and state Senate districts haven’t been revealed.

House minority leadership blasted Republicans for releasing the maps on a state holiday "without the detailed information the public needs."

"Citizens and candidates alike won't have that information online until late Tuesday, less than two days before the entire House votes. That gives them precious little time to absorb the many changes and then offer input, something that goes against the very hallmark of the legislative process," Minority Leader Joni Jenkins said in a statement.

Jenkins said Democrats will review the map further and prepare their own alternative.

"The last thing we should be doing as a legislature is rushing something so important and so long-lasting. Kentuckians deserve more time so we can get this right," Jenkins said.

You can view the proposed House district maps below.

Their supermajority status in the General Assembly puts Republicans in full control of the once-a-decade redistricting process. Their lopsided majorities also created complications due to population losses in many rural counties in eastern and western Kentucky represented by GOP lawmakers.

“Trying to fit those pieces back together in consideration of that population loss was very difficult and resulted in a lot of change,” Osborne said.

After months of work preparing the new boundaries, the speaker expected some pushback.

“I understand that there will be criticisms of it,” he said. “I’m sure that some of our own members have criticisms of it.”