Missouri judge orders new ballot summary for Trump-backed redistricting plan

Opponents of the new congressional map hail the ruling as a partial victory in the ongoing redistricting battle.

Mar. 21, 2026 at 3:19am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A Missouri judge has ordered the state's Republican secretary of state to use a new, toned-down description of a congressional redistricting plan backed by former President Donald Trump. The original ballot summary, crafted by the secretary of state, had described the state's existing districts as "gerrymandered" - a characterization the judge found to be unfair. The revised wording removes references to gerrymandering but keeps phrases describing the new districts as more compact and keeping more counties and cities intact.

Why it matters

The ruling marks a partial victory for opponents of the new map, who had submitted over 300,000 petition signatures seeking a statewide referendum. However, it remains uncertain whether the referendum will actually occur, as election officials are still verifying the petition signatures and the state Supreme Court is considering a separate lawsuit challenging the new districts.

The details

Missouri lawmakers approved the new congressional districts last September, following Trump's call for Republican-led states to redraw districts to give the GOP an advantage in the 2022 midterm elections. The new map is intended to help Republicans win a Kansas City-area seat currently held by Democratic U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver by reassigning portions to two neighboring districts and stretching the remainder into Republican-heavy rural areas.

  • Missouri lawmakers approved the new congressional districts in September 2025.
  • The state's primary elections are scheduled for August 4, 2026.

The players

Denny Hoskins

Missouri's Republican secretary of state, who supports the new congressional districts and crafted the original ballot summary.

People Not Politicians

The opposition group that backed the petition drive and filed suit against the original ballot summary.

Emanuel Cleaver

The Democratic U.S. Representative for Missouri's Kansas City-area district, which the new map is intended to help Republicans win.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“If the referendum does eventually qualify for the ballot, Missourians will benefit from a fair ballot summary thanks to today's ruling.”

— Stephanie Whitaker, Spokesperson for Attorney General Catherine Hanaway

“It's a solid victory, and important victory. But we still object to some of the remaining wording and would consider whether to appeal.”

— Chuck Hatfield, Attorney for People Not Politicians

What’s next

Election officials in Missouri have until August 4, 2026 - the date of the state's primary elections - to determine whether the referendum petition met constitutional requirements and gathered enough valid signatures. If so, the new congressional districts could be suspended until decided by voters.

The takeaway

The ongoing battle over Missouri's congressional redistricting plan highlights the broader partisan fight over gerrymandering and the redrawing of district boundaries to gain political advantage. The judge's ruling to remove biased language from the ballot summary is a step towards ensuring a fair process, but the ultimate outcome remains uncertain as legal challenges continue.