Missouri Rep. Bob Onder Fights Judicial Overreach to Restore Fair GOP-Favored Congressional Map
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U.S. Rep. Bob Onder and fellow patriots have filed a lawsuit to reverse a Missouri Supreme Court order that blocked a Republican-favored redistricting plan, arguing the court’s activist decision violates constitutional principles and threatens the integrity of upcoming elections.
U.S. Rep. Bob Onder, a steadfast Republican from Missouri, filed a federal lawsuit on Friday to overturn a state Supreme Court ruling that unjustly barred 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, asserts that the court’s overreach violates both the U.S. and state constitutions, undermining the will of the people.
'It was really a startling act of judicial supremacy by the Missouri Supreme Court,' Onder said in an interview, highlighting the court’s blatant interference in the democratic process and noting that altering district lines after the August primary disenfranchised about 1.2 million voters.
The complaint filed in the Eastern District of Missouri argues that reinstating the previous district boundaries would be impractical and would cause significant cost, confusion, and hardship for voters, candidates, and election officials. It also points out that the state Supreme Court’s unanimous decision ordered a statewide referendum on the map for November, further complicating the process.
Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway announced that the state is urgently requesting an emergency review by the U.S. Supreme Court, emphasizing that a timely and lawful congressional election depends on a prompt decision to counteract judicial activism.
Under the contested map, which was used in the August primaries, Republicans rightly argued it would give their party a fair chance in a House seat currently held by a Democrat. The plaintiffs maintain that changing district lines after primary results undermines the electoral process and must be prevented to protect the integrity of elections so close to Election Day.