Legal Challenges and Political Struggles
Missouri is among the states facing legal challenges to redistricting based on the 2020 census. While most states see Democrats and Republicans battling over district boundaries, Missouri Republicans find themselves split. The Republican Senate committee supports the map enacted by appeals court judges, while a GOP House committee aligns with Democratic-aligned voters suing for the districts to be overturned. Both sides argue that their approach will best discourage gerrymandering, a manipulation of boundaries to benefit a particular party or group.
Long-term Effects
The outcome of this case will not immediately affect control of the Senate, where Republicans hold the majority. However, this case will establish the criteria for future redistricting after the 2030 census. Chuck Hatfield, the attorney for the plaintiffs, emphasized the importance of this decision, stating that it will shape how redistricting is done in the future.
Uncertain Timeline
It is unclear how quickly the court will reach a decision. Candidate filing for the upcoming August primary elections is scheduled within the next month, from February 27 to March 26. The timing of the ruling is crucial as it will impact the candidates and their campaigns.
Disputed Criteria
The lawsuit revolves around revised redistricting criteria approved by voters in a 2020 ballot measure. The first criterion emphasizes population equality while allowing a deviation of up to 3% to follow political subdivision lines. The second criterion requires compliance with the Voting Rights Act, followed by the prioritization of contiguous and compact districts. Lastly, the fourth criterion aims to keep communities intact within districts if possible under the equal population guidelines.
The Battle Over Maps
The lawsuit argues that splitting Buchanan County and the suburb of Hazelwood into multiple districts is unconstitutional. Plaintiffs’ attorney Chuck Hatfield argues that keeping counties and cities intact is more important than drawing compact districts, as splitting communities enables gerrymandering for political gain. The state attorney general’s office defends the current Senate map, highlighting that other districts also split counties without following political subdivision lines.
Republicans at Odds
The Missouri House Republican Campaign Committee supports the appeal, claiming that community splits in the Senate map are unnecessary. They warn that if the court prioritizes compactness, the House map could be vulnerable to future lawsuits. On the other hand, the Republicans’ Missouri Senate Campaign Committee accuses House Republicans of aligning with Democratic interests for their personal gain. Senate Republicans argue that maintaining compact and contiguous territories is crucial to defend against political and racial gerrymandering.
