JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – A suburban St. Louis lawmaker is resigning from the Missouri House because he no longer lives in the district he was elected to represent.

Republican Rep. Ron Hicks released a statement Thursday saying he was resigning effective Friday. Hicks represents the 107th District, which covers part of St. Charles County. He recently moved from St. Peters to Dardenne Prairie, which is outside the district.

The Missouri Constitution says if lawmakers move from their elected district, their office shall be vacated.
Hicks initially had resisted Democratic calls to resign, saying he was concerned about leaving his constituents without representation for the rest of the year.

His departure means House Republicans will have a 115-45 majority over Democrats when lawmakers convene next month to consider overriding Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon’s vetoes.