A lawsuit challenging a congressional redistricting based on the 2010 Census has been filed in Cole County Circuit Court.

The suit says the new districts are designed to serve partisan ends rather to fairly represent Missouri voters.

The state lost a U.S. House seat after the Census showed Missouri population declined. We had nine, now we have eight.

The new map eliminates the district south of St. Louis, which is represented by Democrat Russ Carnahan.

The plaintiffs are listed as Mildred Conner of Malta Bend, Timothy Brown of Lee’s Summit, Joan Bray of St. Louis, Kenneth Pearson of Columbia, and Phoebe Ottomeyer of Cedar Hill. The lawsuit was filed by Gerald Greiman, a St. Louis attorney.

Attorney General Chris Koster will defend the suit on behalf of the state. Secretary of State Robin Carnahan is also a defendent.

The new districts are slated to go into effect on January first, 2013. Representatives for each of them will be elected in November, 2012.