- A Missouri judge handed President Donald Trump and Republicans a major redistricting victory Wednesday, ruling that the state's referendum process cannot be used to challenge congressional maps drawn by the Legislature and allowing a new GOP-friendly map to remain in place for November's midterm elections.
- Cole County Circuit Judge Daniel Green ruled that Missouri's constitutional referendum provisions do not apply to congressional redistricting enacted by the General Assembly, siding with Republican Secretary of State Denny Hoskins.
- Green also ruled that Hoskins' decision not to certify the referendum petition was lawful and ordered that the Republican-backed congressional map remains in full force and effect for the 2026 general election.
- Plaintiff Richard von Glahn appealed the ruling Wednesday evening, indicating that the case is likely to end up in the Missouri Supreme Court.
- The ruling preserves a map passed by Missouri's Republican-led Legislature after Trump urged GOP-controlled states to redraw congressional boundaries ahead of the midterms.
- Opponents collected thousands of signatures seeking to force a statewide referendum on the map, but Hoskins rejected the petition, arguing that Missouri's Constitution does not allow congressional redistricting to be put to a referendum.
- Green agreed with Hoskins and entered judgment for the Republican National Committee and Missouri Republican State Committee, which intervened in the case.
- The Missouri fight is part of a broader effort by Republican-led states to redraw congressional maps ahead of the November elections.
- Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe called lawmakers into a special session last year after Trump urged Republican-led states to redraw congressional boundaries ahead of the midterms.
- Missouri became the second Republican-led state, after Texas, to pursue new congressional boundaries as part of that push.
A Missouri judge's ruling on Wednesday upheld a congressional map backed by President Donald Trump, allowing it to be used in the upcoming November elections.1
Cole County Circuit Judge Daniel Green determined that Missouri's constitutional provisions do not permit a referendum on congressional redistricting, siding with Republican Secretary of State Denny Hoskins.2
The ruling is a significant victory for Republicans, who aim to maintain their slim majority in the U.S. House.
"The Missouri Constitution does not supply any statement — let alone a clear one — reallocating authority over congressional redistricting away from the General Assembly to a referendum process," Green stated in his ruling.
The new map, which was passed by Missouri's Republican-led Legislature, is designed to enhance Republican chances against Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver of Kansas City.
The map splits parts of Kansas City between Republican-held districts and extends Cleaver's 5th Congressional District into Republican-heavy rural areas, with approximately 59% of voters in the reshaped district being new to it.
Opponents of the map, led by Richard von Glahn, have announced plans to appeal the ruling to the state Supreme Court, arguing for their constitutional rights.
"Everyone knows that Cole County is not the final decision here," von Glahn remarked.
The case is part of a broader trend of litigation surrounding mid-decade redistricting efforts, with Missouri being one of the most litigated states nationally on this issue.
“The ruling preserves a map that splits Kansas City and stretches Cleaver's 5th District into rural areas, with about 59% of its voters new to the district. Opponents, led by Richard von Glahn, have already appealed, arguing the case is not final in Cole County.”
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