Missouri court allows new Trump-backed U.S. House districts to be used in November election

A Missouri judge has greenlit the use of new U.S. House districts, which were championed by former President Donald Trump, for the upcoming November elections. This decision by Cole County Circuit Judge Daniel Green represents a significant win for Republicans aiming to maintain their narrow majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The ruling rejected an attempt to subject the Republican-friendly districts to a statewide referendum. Missouri's new districts had already been utilized in the August primaries. Concurrently, Republican Secretary of State Denny Hoskins had dismissed a petition bearing thousands of signatures that sought to force a November vote on the map, asserting that the Missouri Constitution does not permit referendums on congressional redistricting.

Judge Green concurred with Hoskins and other Republicans who defended the new map, stating, "The Missouri Constitution does not supply any statement, let alone a clear one, reallocating authority over congressional redistricting away from the General Assembly to a referendum process." This legal interpretation is likely to be challenged.

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The Missouri Constitution does not supply any statement, let alone a clear one, reallocating authority over congressional redistricting away from the General Assembly to a referendum process.

Opponents of the redistricting plan, including Richard von Glahn, executive director of People Not Politicians, who initiated the lawsuit, have swiftly announced their intention to appeal. "Everyone knows that Cole County is not the final decision here," von Glahn stated. "After months of delay, we are pleased to be moving forward to the Missouri Supreme Court to enforce our constitutional rights."

The redistricting effort in Missouri was notably aimed at potentially unseating Democratic U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver of Kansas City. The revised map reassigns parts of Kansas City into neighboring districts held by Republicans and extends Cleaver's current 5th Congressional District eastward into heavily Republican rural areas. According to an Associated Press estimate, approximately 59% of the voters in this reshaped district are new to it. State Sen. Rick Brattin secured a Republican primary victory in this district in early August, while Cleaver ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination.

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Everyone knows that Cole County is not the final decision here. After months of delay, we are pleased to be moving forward to the Missouri Supreme Court to enforce our constitutional rights.