The Missouri Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the state’s new congressional map, ruling that Governor Mike Kehoe had the constitutional authority to call the 2025 special legislative session.

The decision 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 six Republicans and two Democrats in the House of Representatives.

During a hearing Wednesday before the Supreme 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 justices.

Joe Kiernan, representing the Missouri Attorney General’s office, defended the special legislative session before the 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 unanimous opinion stated: “The plain language of Article IV, Section 9 of the Missouri Constitution gives the governor discretion to determine when an extraordinary occasion has arisen and to call an extraordinary session.”

The court clarified that Article IV, Section 9 does not include language suggesting the governor’s discretion to call an extraordinary session is limited in any way. The opinion emphasized that the provision does not require the extraordinary occasion to be unusual in the manner the NAACP suggested or specify a method for determining whether an occasion is sufficiently unusual to justify such a session.

Lawmakers approved the new congressional map and proposed a constitutional amendment during the special session.

In a statement, Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway called the decision “another win for the people of Missouri and the Missouri FIRST Map” and “another loss for left-wing lawfare.” Hanaway added: “The Supreme Court unanimously ruled 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.”