Missouri House rejects congressional map as standoff worsens

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP)

The Missouri House has defeated a congressional redistricting plan passed by the state Senate — intensifying a stalemate that could lead to court intervention.

The vote Thursday by the House came after the Senate already had refused to negotiate over their differences.

House Speaker Rob Vescovo, Majority Floor Leader Dean Plocher, Speaker Pro Tem John Wiemann, and House Special Committee on Redistricting Chairman Dan Shaul issued a statement regarding the vote by the House to reject the Senate version of HB 2117 and the decision to again request a conference on the bill:

Today’s vote was a vote to continue the process and to continue the discussion so we can reach a compromise that will provide the best possible map for the state of Missouri. From the beginning of this process we have worked in good faith with the Senate to create a map that is compact and contiguous, that preserves communities of interest, and that ensures the conservative values of Missouri families will continue to have strong representation in our nation’s capital. We will continue to work toward a compromise with our Senate colleagues so that we can pass a map that fairly and accurately reflects our state.

Though Republicans hold overwhelming legislative majorities, Missouri is the only state that has not either enacted or at least passed a new congressional map after the 2020 census.

Maps also remain uncertain in a few other states because of vetoes or court challenges.