A Missouri state judge ruled Thursday that a Republican-backed congressional redistricting plan can remain in place for upcoming elections, rejecting a legal challenge brought by several left-leaning organizations that argued the map violated the Missouri Constitution.

Jackson County Circuit Judge Adam Caine determined the map meets the state’s constitutional requirements, including provisions governing the compactness of congressional districts. The lawsuit had been filed by the Campaign Legal Center, the American Civil Liberties Union, and the ACLU of Missouri on behalf of several voters who contended the mid-decade redistricting effort was unlawful.

The plaintiffs argued the newly drawn districts stretched too far geographically and improperly divided communities, particularly in the Kansas City area. They maintained the changes violated the Missouri Constitution’s mandate that congressional districts be compact.

In a joint statement following the ruling, the groups said the court “misapplied the law” and ignored what they described as significant evidence that the map conflicts with the constitution’s redistricting requirements. They also claimed the plan divided the Kansas City region across multiple districts in a way that undermines the compactness standard.

Judge Caine concluded, however, that the congressional map satisfied the legal criteria established under Missouri law, according to court filings referenced by the ACLU.

Missouri Republicans approved the revised map earlier this year amid calls from national GOP leaders and the White House to consider mid-decade redistricting ahead of the next election cycle.

The new boundaries could provide Republicans with an opportunity to expand their advantage in the state’s congressional delegation. Missouri currently sends eight members to the U.S. House of Representatives, and the revised map could potentially shift the balance to seven Republicans and one Democrat if electoral outcomes align with the new district configuration.

One of the districts most affected by the redrawing is Missouri’s 5th Congressional District in the Kansas City area, currently represented by Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, a Democrat who has held the seat for roughly two decades. The updated boundaries split parts of Kansas City and incorporate more rural territory, a change that analysts say could make the district more competitive for Republicans.

Cleaver won reelection in 2024 with about 60 percent of the vote after district lines were previously adjusted in 2022. He has criticized the push for another round of redistricting, warning earlier this year that such efforts could have significant consequences for the state’s political landscape.

Separately, the Missouri Supreme Court heard arguments earlier this week in another case addressing whether lawmakers were permitted under the state constitution to redraw congressional districts in the middle of the decade.

The legal disputes in Missouri come as redistricting battles intensify across the country ahead of the midterm elections. Several Republican-led states, including Texas and North Carolina, have approved or considered new congressional maps, while Democratic-led efforts have also moved forward in states such as California and Virginia. A court decision in Utah has likewise created a potential shift in that state’s congressional boundaries.