Escalation: Judge Adam Caine rejects map challenge

Jackson County Circuit Judge Adam Caine rejected a lawsuit against Missouri’s new U.S. House map. Challengers said it broke the state rule that districts be compact. Caine found the map overall is more compact and splits fewer cities and counties, so it stands.

The map is designed to help Republicans flip the Kansas City area seat held by Rep. Emanuel Cleaver. It moves parts of Kansas City into two neighboring Republican districts and stretches the rest of the 5th District east into Republican-leaning rural areas.

Another case before the Missouri Supreme Court challenges mid-decade redistricting as unconstitutional. Opponents have also turned in more than 300,000 signatures seeking a statewide vote on the map.

AI-synthesized from multiple reported sources