Kansas City voters — and Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II — could soon learn which congressional map will be used in this year’s election as a key court decision approaches May 12.
That hearing focuses on an appeal in Maggard v. State of Missouri, which will decide whether Missouri’s new congressional map takes effect now or is paused while a citizen-led referendum process continues.
Right now, the new map is allowed to be used. But that could change.
Push For Redistricting Tied To National Politics
The redistricting effort in Missouri is part of a broader push by Republicans, encouraged by former President Donald Trump, to redraw congressional maps in key states and strengthen control of the U.S. House during the second half of his term.
Missouri’s new map is widely viewed as more favorable to Republicans and could help the party gain a seat in Congress — in part by reshaping the Kansas City-area district currently represented by Cleaver.
Kansas City Divided Along Troost
The new district lines split Kansas City in a way that closely follows the historic Troost Avenue dividing line.
Under the map:
- Areas east of Troost remain in the 5th Congressional District, represented by Cleaver
- Areas west of Troost are moved into the 4th Congressional District, joining more rural and central Missouri counties
Critics say that shift breaks apart the core of Kansas City’s voting base and connects parts of the city to regions with very different political and economic interests.
“We’re gonna have three members of Congress… different parts of Kansas City,” Cleaver said during a recent Urban Summit meeting.
Referendum Aims To Change Who Draws The Maps
The legal fight is tied to a broader effort to change how Missouri draws its political districts.
People Not Politicians, a nonpartisan organization, is leading a petition initiative that would shift control of redistricting away from elected officials and place it in the hands of an independent citizens commission.
Supporters say the goal is to reduce partisan gerrymandering and take politics out of the process.
More than 300,000 signatures have been submitted — widely believed to be enough to qualify — but they have not yet been officially certified.
When the petitions were turned in, Denny Hoskins said election officials would have until late July to verify the signatures and determine whether the measure will appear on the November ballot.
Under Missouri law, the vote would typically occur during the next general election unless the governor calls a special election.
What The May 12 Hearing Will Decide
The May 12 hearing does not determine whether the referendum happens. Instead, it focuses on whether the state can move forward with the new map before that process is complete.
A lower court judge previously ruled the map can take effect, declining to block it even after the petition was submitted.
That decision is now under appeal.
- If the court upholds the ruling:
The new map will likely be used in this election - If the court overturns it:
The state could be required to use the current map until the referendum process plays out
A Break From Past Practice?
Opponents argue the state’s approach differs from how similar cases have been handled in the past.
In 2017, Missouri’s right-to-work law was put on hold after signatures were submitted, allowing voters to weigh in before it took effect. At the time, then-Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft confirmed the law would not be implemented while the referendum process moved forward.
In this case, however, the new congressional map is being allowed to proceed — at least for now — while legal challenges continue.
Ballot Language Fight Clarified
Separately, courts have ruled on how the referendum will be presented to voters.
A lawsuit challenged ballot language written by Hoskins, arguing it favored the new map and could mislead voters.
The Missouri Court of Appeals Western District agreed and rewrote the summary, removing:
- References to the current map as “gerrymandered”
- Claims that the new map better reflects voting patterns or fairness
The court limited the language to statements that can be verified directly in law, such as how many counties are split between districts.
Why It Matters
An appeal to the Missouri Supreme Court could reshape Kansas City’s congressional map — and U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II’s reelection race.A hearing is scheduled next week in Maggard v. State of Missouri.
