ST. LOUIS (KMOX) – The Missouri Supreme Court has upheld the state’s new congressional districts.  The divided high court ruled that the eight new U-S House districts comply with a constitutional requirement that they be as compact as possible.

Congressman Russ Carnahan, whose district was eliminated,  says today’s ruling means communities are now needlessly divided into bizarre animal shapes. Such as his former district, now in the shape of a lobster claw. The Fifth District in Kansas City is classified as the “dead lizard” and the new Fourth District in Western Missouri is called the Three Headed Toad.

Carnahan contends this will diminish the clout of the Saint Louis region and creates lopsided party representation.

Two separate lawsuits challenged the new map….one focused largely on the Kansas City area. The other targeted the new Third District, which runs from central Missouri eastward with areas touching the Mississippi River both north and south of Saint Louis.

Carnahan is running against fellow Democrat, Second District Congressman William Lacy Clay.