Missouri judge rules in favor of Republican-friendly redistricting
A Missouri judge ruled Wednesday that a referendum cannot override the state legislature’s authority to enact congressional maps, clearing the way for the state to use a Republican-backed map in November’s general election.
TL;DR
- A Missouri judge ruled that a referendum cannot override the state legislature's authority on congressional maps.
- This ruling allows a Republican-backed map to be used in the November general election.
- Cole County Circuit Judge Daniel Green sided with Secretary of State Denny Hoskins, stating the petition violated the Missouri Constitution.
- The legal challenge arose after the referendum petition was rejected by Hoskins.
- The Republican-drawn map is expected to shift the Kansas City-area congressional seat, long held by Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), in favor of Republicans.
- Gov. Mike Kehoe called a special session last year to redraw districts at the request of Donald Trump.
- The map was signed into law in September, splitting Kansas City and adding Republican-leaning areas to Cleaver's district.
- The ACLU of Missouri argued that the referendum signatures should have suspended the map's implementation, but a lower court rejected this.
- Missouri Republicans, like those in Texas, have been active in redrawing congressional districts.