Missouri court allows new Trump-backed US House districts be used in November election

A Missouri judge has approved the use of President Donald Trump-backed U.S. House districts in the November elections, denying a request to put the Republican-friendly districts to a statewide vote. Cole County Circuit Judge Daniel Green's ruling on Wednesday supports Republicans in their efforts to maintain their slim majority in the U.S. House, but the decision is expected to face appeal.

Missouri's new districts were already employed during the August primaries. Republican Secretary of State Denny Hoskins dismissed a petition with thousands of signatures demanding a November referendum on the map, stating that Missouri's Constitution does not permit a referendum on congressional redistricting. The judge sided with Hoskins.

Missouri's redistricting was aimed at benefiting Democratic congressman Emanuel Cleaver, who is up for re-election. The new map shifts portions of Kansas City to neighboring Republican districts and extends the remainder of Cleaver's 5th Congressional District into Republican-rich rural regions. Approximately 59% of its voters are first-time electoral participants, according to an Associated Press estimate.

Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe convened a special session on redistricting last year at Trump's urging, prompting Republican-led states to redraw congressional boundaries for the midterms. Missouri's revised map is designed to aid Republicans in their pursuit of defeat against Cleaver.