(AURN News) — In a major setback for President Donald Trump’s midterm redistricting campaign, the Missouri Supreme Court unanimously blocked the state’s new Republican-drawn congressional map.
The court ruled Missouri must use its 2022 congressional map in November, even though the new boundaries were used during the August primary.
Republican lawmakers approved the replacement map after Trump urged the state to redraw its congressional districts.
The map was designed to give Republicans an advantage in seven of Missouri’s eight congressional seats by breaking apart the Kansas City-area district represented by Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver.
But opponents collected more than 300,000 signatures seeking a public vote on the new map.
Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins rejected the referendum, arguing that congressional redistricting could not be challenged by voters through the referendum process.
The state’s highest court disagreed, declaring the petition “legal, sufficient, and timely.”
The referendum must now appear on the November ballot, and the new map cannot take effect unless voters approve it.
Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway says she will appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Click play to listen to the report from AURN White House Correspondent Ebony McMorris. For more news, follow @ebonymcmorris & @aurnonline.
