A Missouri judge on Thursday upheld a new Republican-backed congressional map ahead of the upcoming midterm elections, a decision that has drawn criticism from left-leaning groups who argued the plan violated constitutional requirements.
Jackson County Circuit Judge Adam Caine ruled the map complies with the Missouri Constitution, dismissing claims by the Campaign Legal Center (CLC), the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), and the ACLU of Missouri that the redistricting effort was unlawful.
The organizations filed suit on behalf of voters, contending that the mid-decade redistricting violated a constitutional mandate for compact districts.
Following the ruling, the groups issued a joint statement asserting the court “misapplied the law” and “overlooked overwhelming evidence” that the new map breaches Missouri’s constitution.
“The map was drawn under direct pressure from the Trump administration,” they stated in their statement. “It divides the Kansas City area across multiple sprawling districts, clearly violating the constitutional requirement for compactness. If allowed to stand, it would represent a significant setback for fair representation in Missouri.”
However, according to an ACLU filing shared with the court, the revised congressional plan meets the legal standard for compact districts.
Missouri Republicans approved the new House map earlier this year after receiving encouragement from the White House and national GOP leaders to pursue mid-decade redistricting.
The redrawn map could provide Republicans with additional gains in Missouri’s reliably red congressional district landscape, potentially expanding their delegation to seven seats while reducing Democrats’ representation to one.
The plan specifically targets Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Mo., whose 5th Congressional District in Kansas City is split between urban and rural areas. These changes are expected to shift the seat toward Republican voters.
Cleaver, who has held the seat for nearly two decades, won reelection in 2024 with 60% of the vote after district lines were adjusted in 2022. He previously described mid-decade redistricting efforts as “very dangerous.”
Meanwhile, the Missouri Supreme Court is currently reviewing a separate challenge regarding whether lawmakers can redraw districts mid-decade under state constitutional provisions.
Democrats have condemned the map as a partisan power grab amid nationwide tensions over redistricting.
Republicans have also implemented new congressional maps in Texas and North Carolina and are considering additional adjustments in Florida ahead of the midterms.
In parallel, California voters recently approved a Democrat-friendly redistricting plan, while Virginians will vote next month on a similar proposal. Democrats also secured a potential pickup in Utah following a court-ordered redraw.
