Missouri voters rejected Proposition A, preserving the state’s 2022 congressional boundaries. But whether Republicans will attempt another redraw remains an open question.
For U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, whose Kansas City district would have been divided under the rejected plan, the answer is straightforward.
“It’s over,” Cleaver told The Kansas City Star.
Secretary of State Denny Hoskins sees a possible opening. He argues a U.S. Supreme Court ruling limiting race-based redistricting could force Missouri to revisit its map.
However, that ruling concerned Louisiana. The Supreme Court has not declared Missouri’s 2022 map unconstitutional. Having a majority-Black district does not, by itself, establish that a map is unlawful.
Lawmakers are not categorically barred from proposing another map before the next census. But their path has become considerably harder.
Voters also approved Amendment 6, restricting lawmakers’ ability to pass legislation “similar in effect” to a law rejected by referendum. Legal experts say with Amendment 6 in place, another comparable redraw “could” require approval from 80% of both legislative chambers, followed by another statewide vote. Courts may ultimately decide how that restriction applies.
Republicans also lost the two-thirds majorities needed to approve emergency clauses which makes a measure effective immediately. Now, with their decreased numbers, Republicans don’t have enough votes to get an emergency measure through without Democratic support.
Last session, Republicans failed to move the redrawn map forward as an emergency measure, most likely because even though they had enough members to get it through, they didn’t have the commitment from enough of them to reach the 2/3 requirement.
If a replacement map falls outside Amendment 6’s restrictions of “similar in effect,” opponents could still pursue a citizen referendum petition to suspend the new law and put it before voters.
The remaining question is political: After voters rejected the map and defeated Republican legislators, will GOP leaders want another fight?
Cleaver considers the matter settled. Hoskins does not. For now, the 2022 map remains in place.
