KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Missouri Supreme Court issued opinions Tuesday in two cases concerning the state’s latest redistricting map.
Both opinions mark a victory for supporters of the new congressional districts.
The opinion in Elizabeth Healey, et al. v. State of Missouri, et al. stated residents failed to meet the burden required by Missouri law to demonstrate the map was unconstitutional.
This case raised an issue with Article III, Section 45 of the Missouri Constitution, which states that districts "shall be comprised of contiguous territory as compact and as nearly equal in population as may be." But the court found the concerned residents were unable to prove the "legislature improperly deviated from the directives of article III, section 45."
The second lawsuit, Jake Maggard, et al. v. State of Missouri, et al., took issue with which map was currently in effect. Residents gathered signatures they believed should stop the new map from going into effect until it was put before Missouri voters.
However, the court ruled unanimously that nothing in the Constitution allows a referendum petition alone to automatically suspend legislation. Secretary of State Denny Hoskins has yet to determine if the referendum petition filing was "legal, sufficient and timely," per the opinion.
Gov. Mike Kehoe called the rulings a "huge victory for voters."
"Missourians are more alike than we are different, and our Missouri values — rooted in common sense, hard work, and personal responsibility — are stronger and far more aligned across both sides of the aisle than the extreme left-wing agendas pushed in states like New York, California, and Illinois," Kehoe said. "The Missouri First Map ensures those values are represented fairly and accurately at every level of government. This August, Missouri voters will head to the ballot box to vote for candidates in these newly drawn districts."
Attorney General Catherine Hanaway echoed Kehoe's excitement.
"Thanks to the hard work of our legal team, the Missouri FIRST Map stands, the rule of law is vindicated, and Missouri voters can have confidence that their legislature’s work has been upheld. Democracy wins," Hanaway said on social media.
However, Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas and Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II (D-5th District) were less thrilled about the news. Lucas took to X to express his disappointment.
"Sadly, statewide leadership has abandoned tradition, respect, and fairness in order to pander to Washington special interests. We'll meet again at the ballot box," Lucas said.
The courts aren’t coming to save us or the voices of our community. Next step is at the ballot box. pic.twitter.com/hDRJfOReNb
— Mayor Q (@QuintonLucasKC) May 12, 2026
Cleaver issued a lengthy statement on the rulings. While he disagrees with the court's opinions, he said he ultimately believes "the will of the people and the voters will prevail."
READ | Cleaver's full statement
Additional redistricting cases remain ongoing.
NAACP, et al. v. Kehoe will go before the Missouri Supreme Court on May 27. This case argues the governor didn’t have the power to call the "extraordinary session" in which the new redistricting map was adopted.
Additionally, People Not Politicians v. Hoskins will go before a judge in July. Though in a lower court, this case concerns the validity of the signatures people gathered to force a statewide vote on the map.
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