The Missouri Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the state’s new congressional map, ruling that Gov. Mike Kehoe had the constitutional authority to call the 2025 special legislative session. The ruling clears the path for the map to take effect in the 2026 midterm elections. Under the new map, Republicans are expected to have a 7-to-1 advantage in Missouri’s congressional delegation. Currently, Missouri’s congressional delegation consists of 6 Republicans and 2 Democrats in the House of Representatives. New: The Missouri Supreme Court has upheld the state’s new 7R-1D congressional map, clearing the way for it to take effect in the 2026 midterm elections pic.twitter.com/jZH09QpOZC — The Calvin Coolidge Project (@TheCalvinCooli1) May 28, 2026 Missourinet has more: During a hearing Wednesday before the High Court, Attorney Sharon Jones, representing the NAACP of Missouri, argued that last September’s special session did not meet the legal definition of an “extraordinary” session. “To throw out the phrase on ‘extraordinary occasion’ as some sort of near throat clearing would not comply with the way that we interpret our Constitution,” Jones told the Supreme Court judges. Joe Kiernan with the Missouri Attorney General’s office defended the special legislative session before the High Court. “No one doubts that appellants have strident political objections,” Kiernan argued. “What they are not entitled to is to repackage those objections as a lawsuit asking this court to rewrite Missouri’s constitution. The governor wields discretionary authority to call extraordinary sessions.” “The plain language of article IV, section 9, gives the governor discretion to determine when an extraordinary occasion has arisen and to call an extraordinary session. The judgment is affirmed,” the unanimous opinion read, according to KMBC. The Missouri Supreme Court unanimously upholds Gov. Mike Kehoe’s 2025 special legislative session that approved a new congressional map, ruling the Missouri Constitution gives governors broad discretion to decide when an “extraordinary occasion” exists. pic.twitter.com/1XNd5qVulu — SCOTUS Wire (@scotus_wire) May 27, 2026 KMBC noted: The court said the constitution gives the governor discretion to decide when there is an occasion to call a special session. “Contrary to NAACP’s contention, article IV, section 9 of the Missouri Constitution does not include language suggesting the governor’s discretion to call an extraordinary session is limited in any way,” the opinion said. “This provision does not require the extraordinary occasion be an unusual occasion in the way NAACP suggests, nor specify a method for determining whether an occasion is sufficiently unusual to justify such a session.” Lawmakers later approved a new congressional map and proposed a constitutional amendment during that session. “This opinion represents yet another win for the people of Missouri and the Missouri FIRST Map, and another loss for left-wing lawfare,” Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway said in a statement. “The Supreme Court unanimously ruled, almost immediately, that Governor Kehoe acted within his constitutional authority when he convened the special session which passed the Missouri FIRST Map. I’m proud of our talented team who continue to win for Missourians.”