Missouri redistricting opponents may have a secret weapon: forcing a statewide vote

Because Missouri Republicans don't have enough members due to several vacancies, their proposed congressional map could be open to a referendum that requires a statewide election before taking effect.

Missouri House Democrats don't have a lot of leverage to prevent Republicans from pushing through a map this week that would make it much harder for U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver to win reelection.

But it's likely that the initial vote Monday afternoon on redistricting will provide opponents with a potentially potent way to prevent the new map from going into effect: Missouri's referendum process.

Republicans hold overwhelming majorities in the House, so passage of Rep. Dirk Deaton's bill is not in doubt. But it is possible there won't be enough votes to prevent map opponents from putting it