In blow to Democrats, Missouri Supreme Court says map that targets Rep. Cleaver is in effect

The Missouri Supreme Court ruled unanimously on Tuesday to uphold a Republican-friendly congressional map, rejecting legal challenges that claimed the new district lines violated state constitutional requirements on compactness. The decision also dismissed efforts by the group People Not Politicians to place the map on a referendum ballot, which could have delayed its implementation. Missouri lawmakers redrew the state’s congressional map in 2025, reshaping Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver’s Kansas City-based district into a seat more favorable to Republicans. People Not Politicians collected signatures to trigger a referendum, but Secretary of State Denny Hoskins determined during signature verification that the new map—rather than the 2022 version—would take effect. Two plaintiffs sued, arguing the referendum process should have suspended the map, but Cole County Judge Brian Stumpe rejected their case. The Missouri Supreme Court affirmed Hoskins’ decision, stating the state constitution does not automatically suspend legislation when referendum signatures are filed. Judge Ginger Gooch wrote that the plaintiffs failed to prove the secretary had determined the petition met signature requirements by the deadline. Hoskins has not yet ruled on whether the referendum qualifies, and a decision could come too late to affect the August primary. The ruling follows a U.S. Supreme Court decision weakening the Voting Rights Act’s protections for majority-minority districts, sparking redistricting battles across the South. States like Louisiana, Tennessee, and Alabama have redrawn maps to benefit Republicans ahead of the 2026 midterms, while Virginia’s Supreme Court recently invalidated a Democratic-friendly map. Missouri’s court also rejected arguments that the new map violated compactness and continuity rules. The outcome leaves Cleaver’s district vulnerable, as the new map could make it harder for Democrats to retain the seat. Hoskins’ pending decision on the referendum’s validity may determine whether the map remains in place for the upcoming election cycle.