Missouri Supreme Court Reviews Challenge to Governor’s Special Session Authority
The Missouri Supreme Court heard the final legal challenge that could overturn the state’s gerrymandered congressional map without requiring a statewide vote.
JEFFERSON CITY, MISSOURI — The Missouri Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday in a legal challenge to overturn the state’s redrawn congressional map, with NAACP attorneys arguing Governor Mike Kehoe lacked authority to call lawmakers into special session last year.
The case centers on the September 3, 2025 special session convened at the urging of President Donald Trump. During that session, the General Assembly passed two controversial bills that reshaped Missouri’s political scene.
The first bill revised congressional districts in a way that flipped a Democratic-held seat, while the second made it more difficult to pass constitutional amendments proposed through citizen initiatives.
NAACP Challenges Session’s Legitimacy
The NAACP filed its lawsuit on the same day lawmakers began meeting in September 2025, challenging Kehoe’s authority to call the special session. The organization argued that neither the circumstances nor the proposed legislation was urgent enough to justify convening lawmakers outside the regular session.
Cole County Circuit Judge Christopher Limbaugh ruled against the challenge in February, prompting the NAACP to appeal to the state’s highest court. Wednesday’s oral arguments represent what legal experts say could be the last opportunity to overturn the gerrymandered congressional map without requiring a statewide vote.
Congressional Redistricting at Issue
The special session resulted in the passage of House Bill 1, which revised Missouri’s congressional districts, and House Joint Resolution 3, which established new requirements for initiative petitions seeking constitutional amendments.
The redistricting effort was specifically designed to target a Democratic-held congressional seat, effectively gerrymandering the map to favor Republican candidates. The initiative petition changes made it significantly more challenging for citizen-led constitutional amendments to reach the ballot.
Legal Battle Continues
The Supreme Court’s decision will determine whether Kehoe acted within his constitutional authority when calling the special session. If the court sides with the NAACP, it could invalidate both pieces of legislation passed during the disputed session.
The timing of the legal challenge has drawn significant attention, as it represents one of the few remaining avenues to address what critics have called an unconstitutional gerrymander of Missouri’s congressional districts.
The court has not indicated when it will issue its ruling, but the decision could have significant implications for how future governors exercise their power to convene special legislative sessions in Missouri.
