Missouri Supreme Court judge expected to hear case that could give a clear answer on which congressional map is in place
By: Allison Patton
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ) -- A Missouri Supreme Court judge is expected to hear arguments in a redistricting lawsuit on Tuesday that could give voters, politicians and election authorities a final answer as to which congressional map is currently in place.
This lawsuit challenges the constitutionality of the law that enacts the map, House Bill 1. The judge's decision could make several other lawsuits in lower courts irrelevant, along with a referendum to put the 2025 map on the November ballot.
"If she [the plaintiff] prevails in that case, then the referendum would be struck down, and all other cases relating to the referendum are no longer relevant because the law would be struck down," said Richard von Glahn, the executive director of a group backing the referendum.
The general assembly passed a new congressional map in 2025 during a special session. The map, backed by President Donald Trump, could cut Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Kansas City) out of Congress and flip his seat to republican.
Time is critical in this case because local election authorities have about a month to update voter files before the August and November elections open.
"Those maps are locked so that people can participate in that, and for a number of days afterwards," von Glahn said. "The maps do need to be finalized by the end of May."
Spokesperson for the Secretary of State Rachael Dunn said voters will be tied to the 2025 congressional districts, and Secretary Denny Hoskins will let election authorities know what's next when the April election is closed.
Cole County Judge Christopher Limbaugh denied plaintiff Merrie Suzanne Luther's claims, ruling in the state's favor on the basis that the Missouri constitution doesn't expressly prohibit mid-decade redistricting.
Even if the high court sides with the lower court, the referendum still stands. The question then becomes, does the referendum stop the 2025 map from being implemented for the November election?
Plaintiffs Jake Maggard and Gregg Lombardi are asking a Cole County judge to provide an answer, and Von Glahn said he's anticipating a decision this week.
People Not Politicians-- the group backing the referendum-- turned in over 300,000 signatures to Hoskins' office in December. Local election authorities are currently verifying the signatures and will need to return them to the Hoskins' office in the summer.
Von Glahn said the referendum has more than enough signatures required by law to get it on the ballot. He said the group sunshine requested the certified signatures from the Secretary of State's Office, which is how they know the referendum is qualified to go on the ballot.
Boone County Clerk Brianna Lennon told ABC 17 News in February that her office was nearing the end of verification, but many other clerks weren't yet done.
