redistricting

Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins, going against a century of precedent, declared that the Republican-favoring congressional map took effect Dec. 11, even though opponents had submitted enough signatures to likely force a statewide referendum.

Since Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe signed into law a new congressional map that splits Kansas City into three districts, with the goal of ousting Democratic U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II from office, a handful of lawsuits and hundreds of thousands of petition signatures have been submitted in opposition. Two of those cases will be heard in court this week.

An attorney for Secretary of State Denny Hoskins told a judge that the original ballot summary for a referendum on Missouri's gerrymandered congressional map is “inherently argumentative” and should be revised

Missouri Senate Democrats say they're still irate over how the GOP cut off debate last year — pushing through legislation to redraw congressional maps, ban abortion and repeal paid sick leave.

Missouri state Rep. Will Jobe filed a resolution requesting an impeachment investigation of Secretary of State Denny Hoskins over his handling of a redistricting referendum. Hoskins is already facing multiple lawsuits over his actions, including declaring a portion of signatures invalid.

A Missouri citizen group collected 49,773 pages of signatures to force a statewide vote on the redrawn congressional map passed by Republican lawmakers last year. But Secretary of State Denny Hoskins will only submit 33,068 for verification, saying the rest are invalid.

Under pressure from President Trump, some Kansas Republicans want to gerrymander congressional maps in order to oust Democratic Rep. Sharice Davids. But Kansas House Speaker Dan Hawkins said he's about 20 votes short.

Missouri Republicans made big moves last legislative session to force through their agenda on abortion, redistricting and more — and now the consequences will be felt this year. Democrats are determined to stall action in the state Senate as retribution.

In 1914, the Missouri Supreme Court held that once citizens submit signatures, the challenged law is automatically suspended until voters decide its fate.

The Missouri attorney general claims that the Republican-drawn congressional map is now active. But an anti-redistricting campaign argues that the law must be suspended while the state determines if enough valid signatures were submitted to force a statewide vote.

The U.S. Supreme Court appears ready to strike down parts of the Voting Rights Act that protects minority-majority congressional districts. Missouri Sen. Eric Schmitt said the St. Louis-based 1st Congressional District may be redrawn next.

People Not Politicians sued after Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins said he wouldn't count anti-redistricting ballot measure signatures collected before Oct. 14.