Missouri Congressional Redistricting Special Session Challenge

A pro-voting rights lawsuit challenging the Missouri governor’s call for a special legislative session to redraw the state’s congressional map.

Background

The NAACP filed a lawsuit challenging Missouri Republican Governor Mike Kehoe’s call for a special legislative session to redraw the state’s congressional map and rewrite the ballot initiative process to make these measures harder for voters to pass. Plaintiffs assert that the governor has failed to cite an “extraordinary occasion,” as required by the state’s constitution, for calling the special session and lacks authority to create new maps without a new census or apportionment bill from the U.S. Congress. Plaintiffs seek to block the governor from calling the special legislative session.

Why It Matters

The Governor’s call for a special legislative session is in coordination with President Trump’s broader mid-decade redistricting plan to secure additional Republican congressional seats ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Kehoe’s proposed map would give the GOP an extra seat at the expense of Black voters in Kansas City. Meanwhile, Missourians have used the ballot initiative process to pass popular measures opposed by the GOP-controlled legislature, including a law protecting abortion rights.

Latest Updates

• Apr. 10, 2026: Plaintiffs filed their brief with the Missouri Supreme Court.
• May 27, 2026: The Missouri Supreme Court will hear arguments on plaintiffs’ appeal of the trial court’s Feb. 17 ruling that the governor did not violate the constitution by a calling a special session for mid-decade redistricting.
• Mar. 30, 2026: The Missouri Supreme Court granted plaintiffs’ motion to expedite the briefing schedule.
• Mar. 28, 2026: Defendants filed their opposition to plaintiffs’ motion to expedite the briefing schedule.
• Mar. 27, 2026: Plaintiffs filed a motion to expedite the briefing schedule with the Missouri Supreme Court.
• Mar. 2, 2026: Plaintiffs appealed the court’s Feb. 17 ruling to the Missouri Supreme Court.
• Feb. 17, 2026: The court rule that the governor did not violate the constitution by calling a special session for mid-decade redistricting. The state’s new gerrymander remains in place.
• Feb. 3, 2026: The court held a status conference hearing.
• Dec. 15, 2025: The district court held a trial on plaintiffs’ first amended complaint, challenging state officials’ compliance with state law when opening the special session to begin mid-decade redistricting.
• Dec. 14, 2025: Defendants submitted their pretrial brief.
• Dec. 12, 2025: Petitioners submitted their pretrial brief.
• Nov. 10, 2025: Defendants filed their answer.
• Oct. 31, 2025: Plaintiffs’ motion for temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction was denied. Defendants’ motion to dismiss is still under consideration.
• Oct. 17, 2025: Defendants filed a motion to dismiss and opposition to a TRO and PI.
• Oct. 1, 2025: Plaintiffs filed a motion for expedited ruling merits of their state constitutional claims.
• Sept. 15, 2025: The district court will hear arguments on plaintiffs’ motion for temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction.
• Sept. 14, 2025: Defendants filed their objections to plaintiffs’ motion for TRO and PI, and filed a motion to dismiss. Plaintiffs filed their first amended complaint.
• Sept. 5, 2025: Plaintiffs replied to defendants opposition to the TRO.
• Sept. 4, 2025: Plaintiffs filed a motion for a temporary restraining order (TRO) and preliminary injunction (PI) to stop the special session. Defendants replied.
• Sept. 3, 2025: Plaintiffs filed their petition.