Jackson County judge upholds new ‘Missouri First’ congressional map

By: Matthew Sanders

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) -- A Jackson County circuit judge ruled Thursday that a new congressional map drawn last year amid a nationwide push by Republicans to gain an advantage in the U.S. House can remain in effect.

The map, which Gov. Mike Kehoe dubbed "Missouri First," splits up the Democrat-safe Fifth District and is the subject of multiple lawsuits and an initiative petition. Opponents argue that congressional maps can only be drawn every 10 years after the national census, per the Missouri Constitution.

Thursday's ruling came in two combined lawsuits. Circuit Judge Adam Caine stayed a ruling on one count pending a Missouri Supreme Court decision in a separate case challenging the new map, but he found for state officials on the other counts.

Caine wrote in his ruling that the plaintiffs challenging the map failed to show that it was unconstitutional or that its districts were drawn unevenly.

The Missouri General Assembly approved the map, which busts up Democrat Emanuel Cleaver's Kansas City district, last summer as the White House pushed for Republican-dominated states to squeeze out more seats. Some states led by Democrats followed with similar moves.

Filing for the August primary election began last month under the new map.