Missouri Court Strikes Down Effort to Bring GOP-Favoring Election Map to Voter Referendum

A Missouri judge ruled Wednesday that the state's referendum process can't be used to block legislature-drawn congressional maps, allowing a recently implemented map that is expected to favor Republicans to remain active for the November midterm elections.

The Details: Cole County Circuit Court Judge Daniel Green ruled that the referendum provisions in Missouri's constitution don't apply to congressional redistricting. The ruling struck down a suit from The People Not Politicians (PNP) coalition. The case involving referendum use can now move to the state's Supreme Court.

For Context: The maps were already used in primary elections earlier in August. Then, Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins rejected a citizens' petition that sought to bring the maps to referendum and reportedly had over 300,000 signatures. In May, the Missouri Supreme Court upheld the new map and rejected an argument that said submitting referendum petitions should automatically suspend the new map. Missouri's redistricting is part of a broader wave of recent redistricting efforts by both Democrats and Republicans.

Key Quotes: Green wrote in the ruling, "The Missouri Constitution does not supply any statement – let alone a clear one – reallocating authority over congressional redistricting away from the General Assembly to a referendum process." PNP Executive Director Richard von Glahn said, "The most important thing that happened today is that there was a ruling. The state has tried to slow down the judicial process for months and now that we are out of Cole County, the real decision will be made. Our case now moves forward."

How The Media Covered It: Outlets across the spectrum framed the new map as favoring the GOP, but outlets from the right explicitly wrote in headlines or opening lines that the new development is a "win" or "victory" for Trump and Republicans. Outlets from the left and center more often framed the map as "backed" by or "favoring" Republicans.

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