Missouri's Gerrymandering Battle Heats Up

0:00Missouri Governor Mike Kihoh just signaled no rush to redraw the state's congressional map after a big 6-3 Supreme Court ruling gutted part of. The Voting Rights Act. The decision says states like Louisiana can't lean too hard on race when drawing districts, opening doors for more gerrymandering fights nationwide. Kihoh called the current setup the Missouri First Map and said they're sticking with it through the next election cycle. That map, which he signed last year, splits Kansas City across three Republican-leaning districts, aiming to flip seats from Democrats. It's already facing lawsuits and a possible voter referendum that could scrap it before 2026 midterms. Meanwhile, the ruling weakens protections for St. Louis's majority. Black First District, making it a prime target, Democrats and Voting Rights groups are fired up. Repimanual cleaver slammed the court for disrespecting civil rights history while Kansas City Mayor Quinn Lucas warned it'll silence Black voters. On the flip side, some Missouri Republicans are hyped with one state senator tweeting

1:03cheers for an 8-0 GOP sweep. Legal experts say splitting St. Louis could be trickier than Kansas City. Too many dem voters might create purple districts that backfire in hand. Blues extra seats. Still, GOP consultants see a shot now that federal laws guardrails are down, even as times tight before midterms. This sets up intense battles over Missouri's eight-house seats, testing how far Republicans push their edge and whether courts or voters head back. First, that wraps Kansas News Today, brought to you with AI. I'm Corey with The Story.