Missouri Court Preserves GOP-Backed Congressional Map for 2026 Midterms

A Cole County Circuit Court judge in Missouri ruled Wednesday that the state’s referendum process cannot be used to overturn congressional district lines drawn by the Republican-controlled Legislature, delivering a significant victory to GOP leadership and supporters of a Trump-backed redistricting plan. Judge Daniel Green sided with Republican Secretary of State Denny Hoskins, determining that Missouri’s constitutional referendum provisions do not apply to congressional maps enacted by the state’s legislative body.

The ruling effectively blocks citizen efforts to challenge the new boundaries through a statewide vote and keeps the redrawn districts in effect for the 2026 general election. Green also affirmed Hoskins’ decision to reject a referendum petition that had gathered thousands of signatures from opponents of the map, ordering that the Republican-backed congressional map “remains in full force and effect for the 2026 general election.”

The case centers on a map passed by Missouri’s Republican majority following Trump’s urging that GOP-controlled states redraw congressional boundaries ahead of the midterms. The new lines were specifically designed to weaken Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver’s seat in Kansas City by splitting portions of the city between neighboring Republican-held districts and extending the remainder of his 5th Congressional District into heavily Republican rural areas, with approximately 59 percent of voters in the reshaped district being new to it.

Missouri’s current House delegation includes six Republicans and two Democrats. Republican state Sen. Rick Brattin won the GOP primary in the redrawn district earlier this month, while Cleaver faced no opposition in securing the Democratic nomination. The new boundaries were already utilized during the state’s August primary elections.

Green’s decision granted judgment in favor of Hoskins, the Republican National Committee, the National Republican Congressional Committee and the Missouri Republican State Committee, all of which intervened in the case. Plaintiff Richard von Glahn filed an appeal Wednesday evening, according to court records. The ruling leaves the map in place while the case proceeds through the appellate process.

Missouri became the second Republican-led state, after Texas, to pursue new congressional maps following Trump’s 2026 midterm strategy. Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe convened lawmakers in a special legislative session last year to advance the redistricting effort. The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the ruling.