Missouri Judge Delivers Major Redistricting Victory for Trump and GOP Ahead of Midterms

A Missouri judge handed President Donald Trump and Republicans a major redistricting victory Wednesday, ruling that the state’s referendum process cannot be used to challenge congressional maps approved by the Legislature. The decision allows a new Republican-friendly map to remain in place for the November midterm elections.

Cole County Circuit Judge Daniel Green ruled that Missouri’s constitutional referendum rules do not apply to congressional maps drawn by the General Assembly. He sided with Republican Secretary of State Denny Hoskins, who had rejected a petition seeking a statewide vote on the new map.

Green also ruled that Hoskins acted lawfully and ordered that the Republican-backed map remain in effect for the 2026 general election.

Plaintiff Richard von Glahn appealed the decision Wednesday evening, according to the court docket.

The ruling protects a map approved by Missouri’s Republican-controlled Legislature after Trump encouraged GOP-led states to redraw congressional districts ahead of the 2026 midterms.

The new map could make it harder for Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver of Kansas City to keep his seat. Missouri currently has six Republican representatives and two Democrats.

Under the new boundaries, parts of Kansas City are divided between neighboring Republican-held districts, while much of Cleaver’s 5th Congressional District now extends farther east into rural areas that generally favor Republicans.

An Associated Press estimate found that about 59% of voters in the newly drawn district are new to the district.

Republican state Sen. Rick Brattin won the GOP primary in the redrawn district earlier this month, while Cleaver was unopposed in the Democratic primary.

The new map was already used during Missouri’s August primary elections.

Opponents gathered thousands of signatures in an effort to force a statewide referendum on the map. Hoskins rejected the petition, arguing that Missouri’s Constitution does not allow congressional redistricting to be challenged through a referendum.

Judge Green agreed, ruling in favor of Hoskins, the Republican National Committee, the National Republican Congressional Committee and the Missouri Republican State Committee, which had joined the case.

The Missouri dispute is part of a larger national battle over congressional redistricting ahead of the November elections.

Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe previously called lawmakers into a special session after Trump urged GOP-led states to redraw congressional districts before the midterms.

Missouri became the second Republican-led state, after Texas, to pursue new congressional boundaries as part of the effort.

Green’s ruling keeps the Trump-backed map in place while the case moves through the appeals process.

The White House did not immediately respond to The Meridian’s request for comment.