Court hears arguments on Missouri's new GOP-friendly map
Missouri’s Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments on the state’s new congressional map on Tuesday as Democrats try to slow down the Republican Party’s recent redistricting wins.
TL;DR
- The Missouri Supreme Court is hearing oral arguments on a new congressional map drawn by Republicans.
- Democrats are attempting to block the map, which could reduce their seats in the House delegation.
- One of the challenged districts is represented by Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO).
- The map was signed into law by Gov. Mike Kehoe in September 2025 and is set to take effect for the 2026 midterm elections.
- Challenges include a referendum petition effort and arguments that the map violates state constitutional requirements for compactness.
- The ACLU argues that submitting signatures for a referendum should have frozen the map.
- Another challenge questions whether the districts meet the constitutional standard of compactness, contiguity, and population equality.
- Missouri Republicans are part of a larger trend of red states redrawing congressional districts.
- Democrats recently faced a setback in Virginia, where their voter-approved redistricting amendment was struck down.