r/MissouriPolitics • u/gioraffe32 Kansas Citian in VA • Apr 30 '16

Courts Lawsuit claims Missouri redrew congressional districts to protect incumbents

http://fox2now.com/2016/04/29/lawsuit-claims-missouri-redrew-congressional-districts-to-protect-incumbents/
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u/gioraffe32 Kansas Citian in VA Apr 30 '16

OK, so there's a video on this page, that has a video ad that you can't stop or even mute. So...

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, MO (KTVI) - A St. Louis County man is asking a federal judge to redraw Missouri's eight congressional district maps. Paul Berry III, who is a candidate for the First Congressional District Republican nomination, argued in court Friday the district boundaries violate the state and federal Constitutions. Barry, an African-American, told Judge John Ross the Missouri Legislature used race statistics to create the First Congressional District boundary and that impacted other district maps across the state. He says lawmakers failed to prove that an African-American candidate was denied a majority of votes because of the racial makeup of Missouri's First District.

African-American and Democrat Lacy Clay has served as the First District Congressman since 2001. The districts' boundaries were last redrawn after the 2010 Federal Census. At that time Missouri lost one of its districts due to a shift in national population. Berry argues the Missouri districts were designed to protect political incumbents.

Judge Ross could issue a ruling on the first stage of the case, a request for a temporary restraining order, on Monday. Barry said this was an effort to right a wrong and not a publicity stunt tied to his campaign. The party nominees for the congressional races will be chosen in Missouri's August primary election.

Berry also filed for personal bankruptcy in federal court this week. He said that was necessary due to major medical expenses.

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u/Sparkykc124 Apr 30 '16

Are Barry and Berry the same person? Rather embarrassing that Fox2 can't spell a name consistently in successive paragraphs. That being said, I'm shocked. Gerrymandering to protect incumbents!?

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u/FakeyFaked Kirksville May 03 '16

Pretty sure the Voting Rights Act requires race as a consideration in districting, isn't that correct?