Rick Brattin

The Missouri Supreme Court ruled that the state must use its 2022 congressional map for the upcoming November elections — rather than the redrawn map used during the primary. That means a much different race for candidates in the 5th Congressional District, Democrat Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II and his Republican Rick Brattin.

The legal back-and-forth over Missouri's congressional maps is unprecedented in American politics. Current 5th District U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II and his Republican opponent, state Sen. Rick Brattin, share their thoughts on what transpired in the courts — and what it may mean for November.

The 8th Circuit Court will hear arguments Thursday as Republican officials attempt to institute a redrawn congressional map for November's election. But they face a narrow legal path after a U.S. Supreme Court stay and a state ruling that the map never took effect.

 State Sen. Rick Brattin was selected by voters during last week's primary election as the Republican candidate for Missouri's 5th Congressional District, a seat currently held by Democratic U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II. The 5th District is expected to lean more Republican under newly drawn congressional maps.

Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins says he intends to block state and federal funds from reaching Daniel Boone Regional Library after its Columbia branch read LGBTQ+ picture books aloud. One state lawmaker said the event was wholesome and called the threats "government censorship."

The head of the state clerks association says local election officials still lack access to the voter database needed to finalize new district assignments.

Missouri state Sen. Rick Brattin, of Harrisonville, is running for the 5th congressional district even though he does not currently live there. The Kansas City-area race is attracting a big list of Republican hopefuls because it was redrawn to include rural areas hundreds of miles away.

Opponents say the plan dilutes the power of Black voters around Kansas City and vow to block it in court or with a referendum. The governor, who's expected to sign the plan, says it reflects the state's conservative values.

Missouri students would see the words “I AM THE LORD thy God” followed by the Ten Commandments posted in every public and charter school classroom they enter, under a bill sponsored by GOP state Sen. Jamie Burger. Faith leaders testified both in support of and against the proposal.

Missouri's minimum age for marrying without parental consent is 16 years old. The Missouri Senate passed a bipartisan bill last year to raise the minimum age, but Republican leaders in the House never brought it to a vote.

A Jackson County judge on Wednesday will hear Planned Parenthood’s attempt to overturn a number of Missouri laws regulating abortion. Meanwhile, several GOP legislators have already filed bills hoping to reinstate an abortion ban.

Denton Loudermill Jr. is suing three conservative Missouri senators for defamation after they falsely claimed on social media that he was an "illegal alien" and the shooter at the Super Bowl parade in Kansas City. He refiled his federal lawsuits in Missouri after a Kansas court dismissed them.