Judge clears Missouri congressional map, blocks November referendum

Missouri’s new congressional map will remain in place for the November election after a judge rejected an effort to put the Republican-backed boundaries before voters statewide.

Cole County Circuit Judge Daniel Green ruled Wednesday in favor of Republican Secretary of State Denny Hoskins, who argued the Missouri Constitution does not allow voters to use the referendum process to challenge congressional redistricting. The decision is expected to be appealed.

The ruling is a victory for Republicans seeking to maintain their narrow majority in the U.S. House. The new districts were already used during Missouri’s August primary elections.

Gov. Mike Kehoe called lawmakers into a special session last year to redraw the state’s congressional districts after President Donald Trump urged Republican-led states to pursue new maps ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

Missouri’s congressional delegation currently includes six Republicans and two Democrats.

The biggest changes are centered on Democratic U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver’s Kansas City-based 5th Congressional District.

The new map moves portions of KC into neighboring Republican-held districts and stretches Cleaver’s district farther east into more Republican rural areas.

About 59% of voters in the newly drawn 5th District were not previously part of the district, according to an Associated Press estimate.

Opponents of the map collected thousands of signatures in an attempt to force a November referendum. Hoskins rejected the petition, saying congressional redistricting is not subject to Missouri’s referendum process. Green agreed with that interpretation.

Supporters of the map also argued changing congressional boundaries after the August primary could create voter confusion heading into the general election.