Date that new Missouri congressional map takes effect leads to legal wrangling
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The state is asking a federal judge to reopen a dismissed redistricting lawsuit after dueling arguments made in public about when a new, legislature-approved congressional map takes effect.
The state says the map is in effect now while Secretary of State Denny Hoskins verifies the referendum to put the map on the November 2026 ballot. But People Not Politicians, the group backing the referendum, says the map was frozen when they submitted more than 300,000 signatures Dec. 9.
The state argues People Not Politicians acknowledged during the first federal court hearing that the congressional map is only frozen when Hoskins certifies the referendum.
People Not Politicians filed a reply in court Tuesday, arguing the opposite.
"What the State is actually doing is trying to police PNP’s public statements. The State’s letter preceding this motion was not subtle: It demanded, on threat of sanctions, that PNP issue a statement to the media endorsing the State’s incorrect view that PNP’s submission of signatures had no legal effect," People Not Politicians' response reads.
The Republican-led Missouri General Assembly approved the new congressional map last summer as part of a White House push to strengthen the narrow GOP majority in the U.S. House. Lawsuits challenging the map claim it is illegal to redraw congressional districts mid-decade, as the state constitution requires it be done after the census.
The map is likely to cut out U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Kansas City) and flip his seat to Republican.
The ABC 17 News Team has requested the state's letter asking the group to issue a statement, and the group's response.
Federal judge Zachary Bluestone wrote in his order dismissing the case that Hoskins can turn down the referendum, but if he verifies it, the map will be frozen until after the November 2026 election.
Check back for updates.
