Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway’s efforts to block a redistricting referendum is drawing fierce criticism from backers of the vote.

At issue is a push from a group called People Not Politicians to place a recently passed congressional map up for a statewide vote in 2026. The proposal would transform Congressman Emanuel Cleaver’s Kansas City-based district into a GOP-leaning seat.

Hanaway filed a lawsuit in federal court Wednesday arguing that the referendum plan violates the federal and state constitutions. The lawsuit contends nothing in the Missouri Constitution “expressly says that federal congressional reapportionment may be subjected to a referendum.”

“Defendants cannot identify any language that ‘makes it clear’ that the Missouri Constitution transfers auth

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