JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (RTWNews) — A coalition opposing Missouri’s recently approved congressional map has made a significant move by submitting over 300,000 signatures to the Secretary of State's office, calling for a statewide referendum on the redistricting plan that aligns with Donald Trump's efforts to sustain a slim Republican majority in the upcoming elections.
The organizers, known as People Not Politicians, have surpassed the required 110,000 signatures to delay the implementation of the new U.S. House districts pending a public vote in 2024. However, verification of these signatures will be conducted by local election authorities, and the state's Republican Secretary of State, Denny Hoskins, contends that the referendum is unconstitutional.
If upheld, the referendum could pose significant challenges for the Republican Party, particularly their hopes of seizing a Democratic-held seat in the Kansas City region during the November elections.
The legal landscape surrounding this issue is fraught with complications. Missouri law dictates that referendum votes generally occur in November unless the General Assembly opts for an earlier date during its session starting in January. This timeline is critical as Republicans anticipate the new districts will bolster their chances ahead of the elections.
There is a palpable urgency amid a backdrop of heightened political battles across the U.S., where congressional redistricting is traditionally conducted every decade following the census. This round in 2023 has witnessed unusual mid-decade redistricting initiatives urged by Trump to better position Republican interests in various states.
In addition to Missouri's ongoing proceedings, other states like Texas and North Carolina are seeing similar attempts to redraw district lines in hopes of improving Republican electoral prospects. Meanwhile, Democrats are also leveraging redistricting opportunities in places like California, although Republican-led efforts to challenge these changes have emerged.
Missouri's referendum campaign has already garnered substantial financial contributions, raising about $5 million, primarily from out-of-state donors. Countering this, Republican-aligned groups have contributed over $2 million to defend the new map.
Legal disputes are intensifying as accusations arise that Republican operatives attempted to hinder signature collection efforts, with allegations of financial incentives to dissuade petition gatherers. The Secretary of State has proposed a ballot summary that contradicts claims made by referendum supporters, further complicating the matter as both sides prepare for potential litigation.
Historically, Missouri has not seen a congressional redistricting referendum for over a century, raising the stakes as both sides brace for a deeply contentious battle that could shape electoral outcomes in the near future.
