Judge allows Republican groups to join lawsuit over new Missouri congressional map
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
A Cole County judge on Wednesday allowed three Republican groups to step in on a lawsuit challenging a certificate of insufficiency the secretary of state issued on a referendum to get the 2025 congressional map on the November ballot.
Judge Daniel Green allowed the Republican National Committee, National Republican Congressional Committee and Missouri Republican State Committee to join the secretary's side in the lawsuit filed by political action committee People Not Politicians.
The lawsuit will go to trial next Tuesday, Green also ruled.
Attorney for the Republican groups, Marc Ellinger, argued in court Wednesday that his clients have a stake in the lawsuit because they want their candidates to win seats under the new congressional map. The 2025 congressional map is likely to cut out Democrat and District 5 incumbent Emanuel Cleaver and flip his seat to a Republican. Cleaver is running against state Sen. Rick Brattin (R-Harrisonville)
People Not Politicians attorney Chuck Hatfield argued against Ellinger's points, adding that more people involved in arguments could slow down court proceedings when there's about a month left to add measures to the November ballot.
In a separate People Not Politicians court case earlier this year, still on the 2025 congressional map, Ellinger intervened on behalf of another client and immediately asked for a judge change, which pushed back the trial. Hatfield was worried this might happen again, but Ellinger said he doesn't intend to call for a judge change.
Hoskins waited until the last day permitted by law to announce his decision on the referendum. He has been a strong supporter of the 2025 map, also called the "Missouri First" map, since lawmakers passed the map in a special session nearly a year ago.
Hoskins, backed in court by the attorney general, argues Missouri law doesn't allow a referendum on congressional maps. In his certificate of insufficiency, he calls the referendum unconstitutional.
People Not Politicians submitted their referendum to the secretary of state and started gathering signatures soon after the General Assembly approved the map, as lawsuits challenging mid-decade redistricting were filed in Cole County to block the map from going into effect.
The last day to add anything to the November ballot is Sept. 8, and the Missouri Supreme Court is expecting this case to reach the high court.
Chief Justice Brent Powell sent a letter to Green, asking the lower court to hold a quick trial and make a speedy decision.
"Following any entry of judgment in this matter, it must be assumed one or more parties will exercise their right to appeal," Powell wrote. "Accordingly, the matter must be handled expeditiously to ensure sufficient time for expedited appellate review to be completed."
People Not Politicians also has to win against the Republican National Committee, an intervenor and interested party in this case.
According to court documents, the RNC is invested in making sure its candidates make it to Congress.
The 2025 congressional map is likely to turn over Democrat Emanuel Cleaver's seat representing District 5, which covered much of Kansas City under the old map, to a Republican. Cleaver is now running against Republican State Sen. Rick Brattin.
Check back for updates.
