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Kansas Reporter Slams Red State AG's Push to Ignore Constitution for Trump
Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway sues to exclude certain populations from 2030 census to boost GOP power
Published on Feb. 6, 2026
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Kansas City Star correspondent Joel Mathis criticizes Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway for suing the U.S. Department of Commerce to force the exclusion of certain populations from the 2030 census, arguing this is an effort by President Trump and Republicans to shift more congressional seats to the GOP and "predetermine election outcomes" to "consolidate power."
Why it matters
Hanaway's lawsuit is part of a broader Republican effort to use the census and redistricting to gain political advantage, undermining the democratic principle of equal representation. This could have significant implications for the balance of power in Congress and state legislatures.
The details
Hanaway announced she is suing the Commerce Department to omit certain populations from the 2030 census, as well as force a redo of the 2020 census without counting undocumented immigrants. Her argument is that Missouri would have gained an additional congressional seat if the 2020 count had excluded undocumented migrants. Mathis says this is really about "taking away votes from blue states and packing them off to red states like Missouri" to benefit Republicans.
- Hanaway announced the lawsuit on Friday, February 3, 2026.
- The 2030 census that Hanaway wants to alter is scheduled to take place.
The players
Joel Mathis
A correspondent for the Kansas City Star who is criticizing Hanaway's lawsuit.
Catherine Hanaway
The Attorney General of Missouri who is suing the U.S. Department of Commerce to exclude certain populations from the 2030 census.
Donald Trump
The former president whose GOP allies in Congress have been pushing to upend the census to shift more congressional seats to Republicans.
Emanuel Cleaver
The Democratic U.S. Representative from Kansas City whose seat Hanaway is aggressively defending through gerrymandering efforts.
What they’re saying
“For her next act, Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway intends to convince a federal court that the U.S. Constitution doesn't mean what it plainly says.”
— Joel Mathis, Kansas City Star Correspondent (alternet.org)
“The State of Missouri and its voters can no longer ignore the ongoing denial of their right to self-government and fair representation.”
— Catherine Hanaway, Missouri Attorney General (alternet.org)
“The whole idea is to shift a few more seats nationally to the GOP column and make it more difficult for Democrats to win elections. That's gerrymandering by other means.”
— Joel Mathis, Kansas City Star Correspondent (alternet.org)
What’s next
Hanaway's lawsuit will be heard in federal court, where a judge will decide whether to allow the exclusion of certain populations from the 2030 census.
The takeaway
Hanaway's lawsuit is part of a broader Republican strategy to use the census and redistricting to gain political advantage, undermining the democratic principle of equal representation. This highlights the ongoing partisan battles over voting rights and the integrity of the electoral process.
