A lawsuit has been filed challenging a new Missouri law redrawing the state's congressional districts based on the 2010 census.
A half-dozen citizens are listed as plaintiffs on the lawsuit filed today in Cole County Circuit Court contending the new districts were designed to serve partisan ends rather to fairly represent Missourians.
Missouri redrew its nine U.S. House districts into eight to reflect population changes. The new map eliminates the 3rd Congressional District, now represented by Democrat Russ Carnahan of St. Louis, and splits it among several other districts. Carnahan has said that he will wait until after the courts decide on the map to announce his political plans.
The new map was enacted this spring when several House Democrats joined majority Republicans in the House and Senate to override a veto by Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon.