Missouri Supreme Court hears arguments on legality of new congressional map
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
EDITOR'S NOTE: AI was used for background research of this article.
Missouri's rules on state census records were the focus of Tuesday's arguments in the state Supreme Court as the months-long battle of Missouri's true congressional map continues.
The lawsuit, filed by Suzanne Luther and several other Missourians, challenges House Bill 1, passed during a summer 2025 special session that repealed the 2022 congressional map and established new districts. The fight centers on whether the Missouri Constitution allows the legislature to redraw maps mid-decade and if it protects the public's right to have the final say through the referendum process.
The exact law under Article III, Section 45 of the Missouri Constitution regarding redistricting is, "When the number of representatives to which the state is entitled in the House of the Congress of the United States under the census of 1950 and each census thereafter is certified to the governor, the general assembly shall by law divide the state into districts."
The state's last census occurred on April 1, 2020, and is recorded every 10 years.
During arguments, those opposed to the new map pointed to the law being done "each census thereafter," interpreting the rule as right after census results are certified to the governor.
"This case was intentionally narrow and designed to address only the question of whether the General Assembly has the authority to redistrict at all," Charles Hatfield, representing Luther, said.
The state and state Republican officials argued that the law was put in place as a mandate for the general assembly in 1943 after the General Assembly had failed to redistrict in prior decades.
Since there isn't explicit wording against redistricting, the State argued there is technically no limit on the General Assembly redistricting outside of the 10-year rule. They added that the constitution is not a grant but a restriction on the legislature.
"The General Assembly has plenty of authority to redistrict, except as expressly restrained or limited by the Constitution," John Gore, representing state Republican officials, said.
Cole County Judge Christopher Limbaugh previously ruled in favor of the state. Limbaugh determined that the state constitution does not expressly prohibit mid-decade redistricting.
Those opposed to the new map added that while the constitution doesn't explicitly say not to redistrict, the questions of interpretation are still valid.
"You're not going to find a lot of cases that talk about language that says 'shall not' or 'shall have no power to' because they never come here," Hatfield said. "If the Constitution says 'the legislature shall not' or 'shall have no power to' that case is easy, plaintiffs don't bring that case."
The Republican supermajority in the General Assembly created the new map, which Gov. Mike Parson dubbed "Missouri First," as the White House pushed for GOP-dominated states to help the party extend its U.S. House majority.
"I thought our side made a great case as why the Missouri first map, is lawful, it was obviously called in the special session by Governor Kehoe, passed lawfully by the Missouri state legislature," Secretary of State Denny Hoskins said.
Hoskins also called out democrats both in the state and Washington DC for taking action through the courts.
"Whether it's the D.C. Democrats that have filed articles of impeachment against President Trump or the Jeff City Democrats that have filed articles of impeachment against me is trying to use lawfare to get their way, and I'll tell you one thing, I won't be intimidated," Hoskins said.
The map splits up Kansas City's Fifth District, a Democratic stronghold, which could result in a flipped congressional seat come next election.
A rally, organized by a coalition including the People Not Politicians campaign, met outside the Missouri Supreme Court following the hearing in support of the challengers and the referendum process.
"The Constitution says you should redistrict when the census is complete, and that's not what happened here, then the referendum does become moot," Director of People Not Politicians Richard Von Glahn said.
While the court case proceeds, the coalition People Not Politicians is pursuing a referendum to put the 2025 map before voters on the November ballot.
Hoskins adds that local election authorities have until July 28th to verify the referendum signatures.
