People Not Politicians asks U.S. Supreme Court to deny congressional map appeal

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A group battling a mid-decade attempt to redraw Missouri's congressional districts asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday to deny the state attorney general's request to use the divisive map.

People Not Politicians is asking the United States Supreme Court to deny the Missouri Attorney General's attempt to use the 2025 congressional map for the November election.

Last week, the Missouri Supreme Court decided that the People Not Politicians' referendum challenging the gerrymandered 2025 congressional map was sufficient, and it will go on the November ballot as Proposition A. That decision also means the November election will be held under the 2022 map, likely saving Rep. Emanuel Cleaver's (D-Kansas City) seat that was targeted under the 2025 map.

Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway appealed that decision to the U.S. Supreme Court, asking the justices for a stay to temporarily block the decision from taking effect. The state argues the decision violates the U.S. Constitution and could cause widespread voter confusion.

In a court document filed Monday morning, a deadline set by Justice Brett Kavanaugh, People Not Politicians argues the motion is not an emergency; the state is actually asking for an injunction. The group also doubles down on the Missouri Supreme Court' argument's assertion that this dilemma could have been avoided months ago.

People Not Politicians argues the U.S. Supreme Court doesn't even have jurisdiction over this case because it deals with state law.

However, Hanaway argues the decision violates the Elections Clause, which gives states the power to conduct their own elections. In court documents, the state says SCOTUS has upheld that a referendum can be held on congressional maps, but the court has never allowed a fraction of voters to suspend a map.

The referendum was signed by 3.3% of the state's eligible voters, and they have suspended a statewide map that millions of voters already voted on in the August primary, the state's court document argues.

Whether the high court takes up this case will depend on whether justices believe it truly deals with federal law.

The state has set Sept. 14 as the new deadline for a final answer, which is five days before overseas ballots are supposed to be sent out for the November election.

Check back for updates.