Missouri Supreme Court

The Missouri Supreme Court has confirmed a redrawn congressional map that takes aim at the state’s 5th District, a longtime Democratic stronghold. Incumbent Congressman Emanuel Cleaver now prepares for a slate of new challengers to his seat.

After a Missouri Supreme Court decision Tuesday, the group People Not Politicians is urging Secretary of State Denny Hoskins to make a decision on whether its referendum on the 2025 congressional map will make the November 2026 ballot.

The high court also rejected lawsuits contending that the new lines passed in 2025 were not compact as required by law.

What does “when” mean? The definition became a key part of a ruling that impacts the 2026 election by allowing new Republican-favoring congressional districts to stand.

Missouri lawmakers in 2022 passed legislation requiring voters to show photo identification to cast a ballot and placing limits on the work of groups who hold voter registration drives. On Tuesday, the state Supreme Court ruled against the registration restrictions but allowed photo ID to continue.

Missouri's highest court ruled 4-3 that lawmakers were allowed to undergo mid-decade redistricting. But that does not necessarily mean the map passed last year will be in place for the 2026 election, as opponents continue to pursue a referendum.

Missouri's secretary of state is only checking about 200,000 of the 300,000 signatures that were submitted to force a statewide vote on the gerrymandered congressional map. Referendum organizers are less than 200 signatures short of qualifying for the ballot, but want all signatures reviewed.

If the court strikes down the new map, Missouri's congressional lines would revert to the prior map — which keeps the bulk of Kansas City within one district.

An earlier appellate decision said deadly force, like using a firearm or a knife, can be used to protect yourself against death, injury or assault, if the force is reasonable. Prosecutors fear the ruling will affect victims of violent crimes and could make meaningless the state’s Castle Doctrine, a version of “stand your ground” laws.

Last month, the Missouri Supreme Court threw out legislation that gave greater authority to the secretary of state over proposed ballot summaries. Judges have repeatedly rejected Denny Hoskins' language for being biased or misleading.

Senate Republicans planned to protest recent rulings by the Missouri Supreme Court.

Missouri Republican lawmakers pushed through the bill last year in response to the campaign for an abortion rights amendment, and to protect against lawsuits over abortion restrictions still on the books.