Missouri court upholds redrawn congressional map for 2026 elections

A Missouri judge ruled in March 2026 that the state's redrawn congressional map is constitutional and can be used in this year's midterm elections. The map was drawn during a special legislative session that Governor Mike Kehoe called in 2025. This kind of mid-decade redrawing had not happened in Missouri for nearly 100 years. The Trump administration had encouraged Republican-led states to redraw their maps to help the Republican Party. The biggest changes affected Congressional District 5, which covers much of Kansas City. Judge Adam Caine found that the map meets legal standards for shape and district boundaries. Two earlier courts had also rejected challenges to the plan. The new map could shift District 5 toward Republican control, putting Democratic Representative Emanuel Cleaver's seat at risk.