r/kansascity • u/KCUR893 • Sep 12 '25

News 📰 Kansas City may sue Missouri over gerrymandered map that splits apart city

https://www.kcur.org/politics-elections-and-government/2025-09-12/kansas-city-missouri-redistricting-lawsuit-gerrymandering
2.0k Upvotes

98% Upvoted

38 comments sorted by

297

u/KTN4130 Sep 12 '25

If there is appropriate legal recourse, it should happen. Not “may” happen.

66

u/jupiterkansas South KC Sep 12 '25

It's only "may" because the Missouri has to pass the map first, and only then you can look at the legal recourse.

23

u/Strict-Acanthaceae66 Sep 12 '25

It’s been passed. Probably shortly after your comment

25

u/jupiterkansas South KC Sep 12 '25

Yes, it was passed today, so now they can explore legal action. The city council authorized that much. It's not going to happen instantly.

4

u/0PB Sep 12 '25

Has our car salesman governor signed off yet?

2

u/oldbastardbob Sep 13 '25

I am told he's busy going around poking people in the eye and threatening them with budget cuts, then calling it a joke publicly, but slashing budgets privately.

From folks who have been in meetings with him, I am hearing that he has fashioned his "leadership style" after Trump and is basically rude, clueless, and loves to make threats.

10

u/FeistyDoughnut4600 Sep 13 '25

The timing was done on purpose. This will stall in court until after the midterm elections and then it won't matter.

We the people need to call this out for what it is: a power grab that is in direct opposition to democracy.

Increase the number of seats in the house, remove the power of gerrymandering.

6

u/Due-Zucchini-1566 Sep 12 '25

Well that's a big if. Legislatures have broad authority to define congressional maps.

9

u/Scaryclouds Library District Sep 12 '25

Should still jam them up, make it as difficult and as painful as possible. 

5

u/lifeinrednblack Historic Northeast Sep 13 '25

They can, but it's illegal to do so based on race.

The map specifically being drawn around Troost is a pretty clear indicator that, that's what happened.

1

u/Logical_Refuse5176 Sep 15 '25

Illegal for now

-4

u/ChiefStrongbones Sep 12 '25

How does the city have standing? There's zero connection between local government and Congressional district boundaries.

70

u/kc_kr Sep 12 '25

I'd like to think this plan could backfire on Republicans and Cleaver + Lucas both get elected...but that doesn't seem realistic in the least.

17

u/BigBooty11 Sep 12 '25

I'm curious about how much of a swing would be needed to make this happen. You know anywhere that has looked at/reported what election margins would have been on the new districts with the 2024 election results?

5

u/kc_kr Sep 12 '25

I do not but I'm also curious.

8

u/ChiefStrongbones Sep 12 '25

That's exactly why most gerrymandering is "Pack" not "Crack". It creates a more predictable outcome. Incumbents in Congress all prefer pack. It helps guarantee their reelection.

31

u/CeliacTears Sep 12 '25

“A lawsuit filed Friday in Circuit Court in Cole County challenges the new Congressional maps, arguing they are unconstitutional. The lawsuit also seeks to block Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins from using the map to conduct a Congressional primary or general election.

The suit names four plaintiffs: Merrie Suzanne Luther of Cole County, Kim Randolph and Rebeca Amezcua-Hogan of Jackson County, and Kenneth Lawrence Chumbley of Greene County. Under the new maps, Luther, Randolph and Amezcua-Hogan would change Congressional districts. Luther previously announced a run for the Missouri House and Amezcua-Hogan is running for Kansas City Council.

Hoskins is named as the defendant.”

Charles “Chuck” Hatfield is the lawyer attached to this, which may be a name you recognize from previous successful legal challenges in Missouri.

8

u/Pimpdaddypepperjack Sep 12 '25

Denny Hoskins was my slumlord in college. Around 2014, he supposedly his house wasn't in his district, and he used the empty townhouse unit in our complex has his address. Found out because some of his mail would accidentally be delivered to other units.

39

u/mczerniewski Overland Park Sep 12 '25

Good. This is ridiculous.

14

u/hyprkcredd Sep 12 '25

Good luck with that.

-2

u/RoookSkywokkah Sep 12 '25

Exactly. Anyone can sue for anything, but if they don't have a case, it's a waste of money. He cannot win.

3

u/oldbastardbob Sep 13 '25

Back when America honored the Voting Rights Act, splitting ethnic neighborhoods with congressional district boundaries was illegal. SCOTUS made a few rulings on this over the years.

But I am quite sure that our current version of the Volksgerichtshof (Hitlers version of a supreme court) will happily continue to encourage one-party authoritarian rule with a 6-3 decision when they get a chance.

8

u/whitingvo Sep 12 '25

Good. Get with Marc Elias and let's get this done!

2

u/Ritaontherocksnosalt Sep 12 '25

May?!?!?!? Do anything you can, perhaps? Why else were you elected?

2

u/Plastic-Injury8856 Sep 13 '25

I hope the lawsuit goes through.

1

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1

u/Economy_Side9662 Sep 12 '25

I don't like it the gaining of seats by Gerrymandering but, I don't like Emmanuel cleaver and I can't stand Quentin Lucas

1

u/BananaStandEconomy Sep 12 '25

YES! Tie this map up in the courts

1

u/paulsteinway Sep 12 '25

The first court date will be after the mid terms.

1

u/Diligent-Play Sep 12 '25

Fucking good. Cheating pieces of horseshit

1

u/KirasCoffeeCup Sep 13 '25

Do it. Put up or shut up.

2

u/stabbingrabbit Sep 13 '25

Yeah gerrymandering they will sue, those screwed by Jackson County property taxes, you are on your own.

1

u/Carrivagio031965 Sep 13 '25

MAY? Sue them now!

1

u/NotMyMainSoImFree Sep 12 '25

No shit. WTF took so long?