Missouri Judge Upholds Gerrymandered Congressional Map Backed by GOP Establishment
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A Missouri judge sided with Republican leaders, allowing a controversial congressional map—widely criticized for diluting urban and minority votes—to stand for the November elections, dismissing a grassroots petition for a public referendum.
On Wednesday, Cole County Circuit Judge Daniel Green delivered a blow to democratic participation by ruling that Missouri's newly drawn U.S. House districts, crafted and championed by Republican lawmakers, will be used in the November elections. This decision dismisses a petition signed by thousands of Missourians seeking a statewide referendum to challenge the map, which had already been imposed in the August primaries.
Secretary of State Denny Hoskins, acting in lockstep with the Republican establishment, previously dismissed the petition, claiming the state constitution does not allow the people to vote directly on congressional redistricting. Judge Green echoed this anti-democratic stance, asserting that the constitution gives no power to the public to override the General Assembly’s control over redistricting.
Grassroots opponents, led by the advocacy group People Not Politicians, immediately announced plans to appeal the ruling. "Everyone knows that Cole County is not the final decision here," said Richard von Glahn, executive director of the group, underscoring that the fight for fair representation will continue in the Missouri Supreme Court.
The map in question, drawn during a special legislative session called by Governor Mike Kehoe, blatantly reconfigures the district of Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver. It carves up Kansas City, shifting large portions into neighboring Republican-dominated districts and stretching the 5th District into rural, conservative areas. This gerrymandering tactic effectively dilutes the influence of urban and minority voters, with an estimated 59% of voters in the 5th District now new to the district, according to the Associated Press.
Republican Attorney General Catherine Hanaway’s office, representing the secretary of state, argued that redistricting is a legislative privilege, not subject to a public vote unless explicitly allowed by the constitution. They further claimed that changing district lines after the primary would violate federal law and confuse voters. Judge Green sided with these arguments, prioritizing procedural technicalities over the will of the people.
The case is now expected to move to the Missouri Supreme Court, where the fundamental question of whether the state constitution allows citizens any say in congressional maps will be at stake. Advocates for fair representation remain determined to challenge the entrenched power of partisan lawmakers.