Missouri judge rejects challenge to new US House districts backed by Trump

Ruling seen as victory for Republicans, but separate legal challenge remains pending

Mar. 13, 2026 at 1:18am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A Missouri court has rejected a legal challenge to new U.S. House districts backed by former President Donald Trump that are aimed at helping Republicans win an additional seat in the midterm elections. The opponents claimed the new districts violated a state constitutional provision requiring districts to be compact, but the judge ruled that the decision of what municipalities to split is a political and policy determination that is properly left to the state legislature.

Why it matters

This ruling is a victory for Republicans in their efforts to gain an advantage in the upcoming midterm elections by redrawing congressional districts. However, a separate legal challenge alleging that the mid-decade redistricting is unconstitutional is still pending at the Missouri Supreme Court, and opponents have also submitted over 300,000 petition signatures in an attempt to force a statewide vote on the new congressional map.

The details

The new map passed during a September special legislative session is intended to help Republicans win a Kansas City-area seat currently held by Democratic U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver. It reassigns portions of Kansas City to two neighboring districts represented by Republicans and stretches the remainder of his 5th Congressional District eastward into Republican-heavy rural areas. The judge rejected the opponents' argument that this 'radically departs' from historical norms, stating that the decision of what municipalities to split is a political and policy determination.

  • The new congressional map was passed by the Missouri legislature during a September 2025 special session.
  • The legal challenge to the new districts was rejected by a Missouri court on March 12, 2026.

The players

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States who has been angling for an edge in the upcoming midterm elections by targeting states for congressional redistricting.

Emanuel Cleaver

The Democratic U.S. Representative for Missouri's 5th Congressional District, which is being redrawn in a way that could help Republicans win the seat.

Catherine Hanaway

The Republican Attorney General of Missouri who defended the new congressional map in court.

Adam Caine

The Jackson County Circuit Judge who rejected the legal challenge to the new U.S. House districts in Missouri.

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)

A civil rights organization that represented the voters who sued over the new congressional map, criticizing the court ruling.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“If allowed to stand, it would represent a significant setback for fair representation in Missouri.”

— American Civil Liberties Union and the Campaign Legal Center

What’s next

A separate legal challenge alleging that the mid-decade redistricting is unconstitutional is still pending at the Missouri Supreme Court. Opponents have also submitted over 300,000 petition signatures in an attempt to force a statewide vote on the new congressional map.

The takeaway

This ruling is a victory for Republicans in their efforts to gain an advantage in the upcoming midterm elections through congressional redistricting, but the battle over the new map in Missouri is far from over, with additional legal challenges and a potential statewide vote still to come.