politics
Missouri Supreme Court Hears Arguments on Congressional Map
Missouri's highest court heard arguments Tuesday over whether a newly drawn congressional map violates the state constitution's compactness requirement and whether it can remain in place for this year's elections. The case is part of a nationwide wave of redistricting fights triggered by a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that weakened Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.
May 11, 3:02 PM·3m read3 sources
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The Missouri Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday on whether the state's new congressional map complies with a constitutional compactness requirement and whether it can be used for this year's elections. Republican officials adopted the map last September following the 2020 census.
A separate case argued the same day contends the new districts should have been automatically suspended in December when opponents submitted more than 300,000 petition signatures seeking a public referendum. Under the map passed by the Republican-led legislature, Missouri sends six Republicans and two Democrats to the U.S. House.
A state judge in March rejected claims that the map violates the compactness requirement, concluding the new districts are on average more compact even if the 5th District itself is not. That ruling has been appealed to the state Supreme Court.
The Missouri case is one of several redistricting battles as the November midterm elections approach. In South Carolina, Republican lawmakers are considering whether to redraw the state's only Democratic-held congressional seat. State senators have not yet decided whether to take up a House-passed plan after the legislature's regular session ends Thursday.
The House also appears ready to pass legislation that could delay the June 9 congressional primaries until August. Any redistricting effort would require Senate approval, where support is less certain and a two-thirds majority would be needed before Thursday's session ends.
Some senators have expressed doubts that the proposed map would guarantee a Republican victory in the district long held by a Democrat and fear it could make other districts more competitive.
In Louisiana, a Senate committee is scheduled to vote Tuesday on a new U.S. House map, with a full Senate vote expected Thursday. Options under consideration range from leaving Democrats favored in one district to eliminating all majority-Black districts.
