Missouri Judge Upholds New Congressional Map

A Missouri circuit court judge has upheld a controversial new congressional map designed to bolster Republican chances in the upcoming midterm elections, rejecting claims that it violates the state's constitution. The ruling, issued Thursday by Jackson County Circuit Judge Adam Caine, clears the way for the map to take effect, potentially flipping a Democratic-held seat to the GOP.

The decision came in a lawsuit filed by voters who argued the redrawn districts fail to meet Missouri's constitutional requirement for compactness. Opponents contended that the map stretches the 5th Congressional District, currently represented by Democrat Emanuel Cleaver, eastward from Kansas City into rural, Republican-leaning areas while reassigning parts of the city to two neighboring GOP districts. This reconfiguration, they said, dilutes urban voting power and deviates from historical norms for the district, which had been more concentrated in Kansas City.

Judge Caine disagreed, ruling that the plaintiffs did not prove a clear constitutional violation. He noted that while the 5th District is less compact, the overall map improves on the 2022 version by reducing split counties from nine to five...