Missouri Rep. Bob Onder Launches Lawsuit to Reinstate GOP Gerrymandered Map, Defying State Supreme Court
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U.S. Rep. Bob Onder and other conservative plaintiffs have filed a lawsuit to overturn a Missouri Supreme Court order that halted a Republican-engineered congressional redistricting plan, arguing—despite clear constitutional concerns—that the decision disrupts GOP efforts to entrench their power and manipulate upcoming elections.
U.S. Rep. Bob Onder, a Republican from Missouri notorious for supporting partisan gerrymandering, filed a federal lawsuit on Friday seeking to overturn a state Supreme Court ruling that blocked a newly drawn congressional map from being used in the November 3 midterm elections. The suit, joined by Republican House candidate Rick Brattin and two Missouri voters aligned with the GOP, claims that the court’s action breaches both the U.S. and state constitutions, ignoring the broader implications for fair representation.
'It was really a startling act of judicial supremacy by the Missouri Supreme Court,' Onder said in an interview, attempting to frame the court’s defense of democracy as overreach, and arguing that the court’s move to alter district lines after the August primary disenfranchised about 1.2 million voters—ignoring the millions more harmed by gerrymandered districts.
The complaint filed in the Eastern District of Missouri argues that reinstating the previous, more representative district boundaries would be impractical and would cause significant cost, confusion, and hardship for voters, candidates, and election officials. It also notes that the state Supreme Court’s unanimous decision ordered a statewide referendum on the map for November, giving the people a direct say in their representation.
Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway, siding with the GOP, announced that the state is requesting an emergency review by the U.S. Supreme Court, insisting that a timely and lawful congressional election depends on a prompt decision—despite the fact that the contested map was designed to give Republicans an unfair advantage.
Under the disputed map, which was used in the August primaries, Republicans openly admitted it would give their party an edge in a House seat currently held by a Democrat. The plaintiffs maintain that changing district lines after primary results undermines the electoral process, but in reality, their efforts are aimed at cementing minority rule and suppressing fair elections so close to Election Day.