Topeka ? A key lawmaker said Friday that Gov. Bill Graves should veto a Senate redistricting plan that was adopted over the protest of Senate leaders.

“The process obviously didn’t work,” said Sen. Sandy Praeger, a Lawrence Republican and vice president of the Senate. “I’d like another chance, and (a veto) is a way to get it.”

Praeger was on the losing side of a 21-19 vote approving a Senate redistricting plan that succeeded on a last-minute amendment supported by 11 conservative Republicans and all 10 Senate Democrats.

Praeger voted against the amendment, saying the approved map contained numerous “subtle changes” that senators didn’t have an opportunity to study. “We probably ought to look at this again,” she said.

Under the approved map, Praeger’s district would include most of Lawrence and western Douglas County. The 3rd senatorial district, held by Bob Lyon, R-Winchester, would include Lawrence north of Sixth Street, eastern Douglas County, Jefferson County and most of Leavenworth County.

Senate President Dave Kerr, R-Hutchinson, also on the short end of the vote, said the approved map “was presented with a total disregard for the time and hard work of those who toiled in the trenches at the committee level.”

But supporters of the bill defended it. Democrats said it gave them a fighting chance in several districts and preserved rural clout, a factor that motivated some Republicans.

Senate Democratic Leader Anthony Hensley of Topeka noted the bipartisan coalition that was behind the successful map.

“It did what it was intended to do, and that was be fair,” he said.

Sen. Stan Clark, R-Oakley, one of the architects of the amendment, said he doubted Graves would veto it because the governor will need help from Senate Democrats later in the session to pass tax increases Graves wants in order to support the budget.

Natalie Haag, Graves’ chief of staff, said Graves had not yet looked at the Senate redistricting plan.

“We’ve kind of decided to let things cool down before we even take a look at it,” Haag said.

Sen. Derek Schmidt, R-Independence, also on the losing side of the redistricting vote, said he didn’t know whether Graves would be asked to veto the measure, but that more developments would surface on the issue.

“You haven’t heard the last of Senate redistricting,” he said, adding, “we’re all so shell-shocked, we’re just waiting to see what happens.”