Missouri Supreme Court rules new GOP-drawn map can’t be used for November election

The Missouri Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the state’s redrawn congressional map cannot be used in this year’s midterm elections, dealing a blow to Republicans. The court ruled that a referendum that will determine whether the state can use the map going forward must appear on the November ballot, meaning Missouri’s fall elections will take place under its previous district lines. The new map was designed to draw one of the two Missouri Democrats in Congress, longtime Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, out of his seat. The ruling comes after a protracted battle between advocacy group People Not Politicians Missouri, who sought to block the Republican redistricting effort, and the state GOP leaders who defended it.

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