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JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — A judge has ruled in favor of using Missouri’s new U.S. House districts, which have received support from President Donald Trump, for the upcoming midterm elections, even though a voter referendum on the map may still occur.
This decision by Cole County Circuit Judge Brian Stumpe is a significant win for Republicans, who are aiming to secure an additional congressional seat in the November elections through these new districts.
Critics of the new district boundaries argued that they should have been automatically halted in December when over 300,000 signatures were collected for a statewide referendum on the issue. However, Judge Stumpe stated that the opponents did not have the legal standing to sue. He further noted that the map would only be suspended if the petition is later found to be legally valid and contains enough legitimate signatures.
According to state law, Missouri’s Republican Secretary of State, Denny Hoskins, has until August 4th—the date of Missouri’s primary election—to verify the validity of the referendum petition.
Missouri’s situation is part of a larger national redistricting conflict that started last summer. President Trump urged Texas Republicans to redraw House districts to favor the GOP in the midterms. This prompted California Democrats to create their own new districts, sparking a series of redistricting battles across various states.