Missouri Supreme Court Upholds New Congressional Map Favoring Republicans

The Missouri Supreme Court on March 24 upheld a lower court ruling authorizing the state to move forward with redrawn congressional maps that would favor Republicans in the state. The court ruled that the new maps were lawful because the state’s constitution sets no limits on when the legislature may redistrict. That aligns with the previous ruling by a judge in Jackson County, Missouri, who likewise sided with the state legislature. “The circuit court correctly concluded … the Missouri Constitution does not limit the General Assembly’s plenary legislative power to enact [new congressional maps],” the court wrote. The Kansas City-area seat—Missouri’s 5th Congressional District—is currently held by Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.), one of only two Democrats in the red state’s U.S. House delegation....