Missouri Congressional Redistricting Challenge (Luther)

A pro-voting lawsuit challenging the Missouri legislature’s new gerrymandered congressional map.

Background

Missouri voters filed a lawsuit in state court challenging the legislature’s new congressional map. Plaintiffs assert redrawing the map without new census data violates the state constitution’s prohibition on mid-decade redistricting. The lawsuit seeks to block the new congressional map.

Why It Matters

The Missouri legislature’s passage of a new congressional map is in coordination with President Donald Trump’s nationwide redistricting plan to secure additional Republican congressional seats ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The new congressional map dilutes the voting strength of Black voters in Kansas City by dividing the city across three larger conservative congressional districts.

Latest Updates

• Dec. 31, 2025: Plaintiffs asked the Missouri Supreme Court to expedite proceedings in order to produce a resolution before the candidate filing period begins on Feb. 24, 2026.
• Dec. 30, 2025: The trial court deemed the judgment final, allowing the appellate proceedings to begin.
• Dec. 19, 2025: Plaintiffs filed a motion seeking to shorten the trial court’s 30-day period over the final judgment in order to expedite proceeding the Court of Appeals.
• Dec. 15, 2025: Plaintiffs appealed the trial court’s Dec. 9 ruling to the Missouri Supreme Court.
• Dec. 9, 2025: The court ruled in favor of defendants, finding that because there is no express prohibition on mid-decade redistricting, the legislature had the power to act.
• Nov. 12, 2025: A bench trial occurred.
• Nov. 5, 2025:The Missouri Republican State Committee has intervened as a defendant.
• Oct. 14, 2025: Defendants’ filed their answer.
• Sept. 24, 2025: The court will hold a status hearing on Nov. 4.
• Sept. 12, 2025: Plaintiffs filed their petition.