TOPEKA (AP) – Three Kansas House districts in rural areas would be eliminated and three new districts would be created in the Kansas City metropolitan area under a plan emerging in the
Legislature.

The House Committee on Redistricting introduced the map Monday. Hearings on the plan will start Wednesday.

One district each in southwest, central and southeast Kansas would dissolve under the plan. The map creates two new districts in Johnson County and one in Wyandotte County.

The changes reflect shifts in population centers based on the 2010 census.

Republican incumbents Rep. Larry Powell in the southwest and Rep. Tom Arpke in the central are running for Senate seats. The southeast district could pit Democrat incumbent Reps. Bob Grant and Jerry Williams in a summer primary if both seek re-election.