Missouri Congressional Redistricting Challenge (Healey)

A pro-voting lawsuit challenging the Missouri legislature’s new gerrymandered congressional map.

Background

Missouri voters filed a lawsuit in state court challenging the Missouri legislature’s new congressional map. Plaintiffs assert that the Missouri legislature violated the state constitution’s prohibition on mid-decade redistricting. They also claim the map does not comply with the state constitution’s ‘compactness’ requirement, because it divides Kansas City into three distinct voting districts. The lawsuit seeks to block implementation of the redrawn congressional map.

Why It Matters

The redrawn congressional map is part of President Donald Trump’s broader effort to pressure states to conduct mid-decade redistricting to secure additional Republican congressional seats ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. For more than 50 years, Kansas City has been a single voting district. Now, the Missouri legislature seeks to divide its population across three larger conservative districts to weaken the voting power of the city’s Black voters.

Latest Updates: 

• May 12, 2026: The Missouri Supreme Court heard arguments in the case. The court issued its opinion.
• May 11, 2026: Defendants filed their reply brief.
• May 6, 2026: Defendants submitted their response brief.
• May 5, 2026:Intervenor-defendants submitted their response brief.
• Apr. 16, 2026: Plaintiffs filed their brief with the Missouri Supreme Court.
• Mar. 27, 2026: Parties submitted their briefs on plaintiffs’ motion. The court denied the motion. A briefing schedule has been set and while the appeals will not be consolidated, Wise and Healey plaintiffs will share oral argument time before the Missouri Supreme Court.
• Mar. 24, 2026: Plaintiffs filed a motion with the Missouri Supreme Court asking to consolidate their appeal with Wise.
• Mar. 20, 2026: Plaintiffs appealed to the Missouri Supreme Court.
• Mar. 12, 2026: The court ruled the gerrymandered map will stand and plaintiffs failed to “prove clearly and undoubtedly that the 2025 Plan was not as compact as may be.”
• Dec. 22, 2025: Defendants filed their answer to plaintiffs’ complaint.
• Dec. 9, 2025: The court granted plaintiffs’ motion to transfer venue and consolidated this case with Wise.
• Nov. 24, 2025: The court held a hearing.
• Nov. 21, 2025: Plaintiffs filed their opposition to Missouri Republican State Committee’s motion to intervene as a defendant.
• Nov. 17, 2025: The Missouri Republican State Committee seeks to intervene as a defendant.
• Nov. 10, 2025: KCEB defendants filed their response to plaintiffs’ complaint.
• Oct. 21, 2025: Jackson County defendants filed their response to plaintiffs’ complaint.
• Oct. 17, 2025: Defendants filed a motion to dismiss.
• Sept. 29, 2025: Plaintiffs filed a motion seeking to join their mid-decade redistricting claim with Wise.
• Sept. 28, 2025: Plaintiffs filed their complaint.