Gov. Kehoe called a special legislative session to redistrict Missouri, not because of a court order, not because of an emergency, but because Donald Trump told Republicans to redraw the map. This is a direct attack on Black voters, Kansas City, St. Louis, and the very idea of democracy.

We won't stand for it.

The Missouri State Conference of the NAACP is suing to stop this illegal power grab. They did it in Texas, and if they get away with it here, they’ll do it everywhere.

On September 3, 2025, the NAACP Missouri State Conference and individual plaintiffs filed a Petition for Declaratory Judgment and Injunctive Relief against the State of Missouri, the Governor, and other state officials. The lawsuit challenges the constitutionality of the Proclamation issued by Governor Mike Kehoe on August 29, 2025, calling the state legislature into an extraordinary session. The Proclamation purportedly was issued under the authority of Article IV, Section 9 of the Missouri Constitution and contains two general topic areas of consideration for the General Assembly – a new Congressional Map drafted under Article III, Section 45 and new laws relating to initiative petitions.

THIS MOVE IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL

Governor Kehoe is uing and invalid "extraordinary occasion" to call a special session. The state constitution only allows these sessions under actual emergencies - to partisan marching orders. There is no court order. No census trigger. Just a political stunt dressed up as law.

IT'S A TRUMP-INSPIRED POWER GRAB

This session follows a directive from Donald Trump urging states to redraw congressional maps mid-decade. It's a deliberate attack on Black and Urban voters in Kansas City, St. Louis, and mid-Missouri and a play to silence the people's voice at the ballot box.

The Governor’s goal of increasing his political party’s dominance by putting in jeopardy the Kansas City-area district Emanuel Cleaver of U.S. House of Representatives, an African-American congressperson. President Trump approved of Gover Kehoe’s actions, commenting on social media that Missouri voters will have “the tremendous opportunity to elect an additional MAGA Republican in the 2026 Midterm Elections,” adding the Governor’s new proposed map needs to be approved “AS IS.”

The lawsuit alleges that, although the question of what an “extraordinary occasion” under the Missouri Constitution has not been tested in the Courts, no governor has ever before convened the legislature based on similar facts. Moreover, Section 45 does not expressly grant the Governor the authority to request a new Congressional Map from the General Assembly without action from Congress. The Proclamation claims that the State of Missouri's current congressional district map may be vulnerable to a legal challenge. The lawsuit points out that no new congressional maps are required until after the 2030 census and alleges that the mere threat of litigation would not require redrawing district maps. Such action would be “necessary” only if a litigant actually initiated a lawsuit, prevailed against the State, and Missouri was ordered by a court to redraw district lines. None of that has transpired.

Plaintiffs ask that the court enter judgment declaring the Governor does not have the authority to designate the matter of redrawing congressional boundaries to the General Assembly under Article IV, Section 9 and declaring the General Assembly does not have the authority to act to draw new congressional boundaries outside of the provisions of Article III, Section 45.

Plaintiffs are represented by Jones Advocacy Group, The Chapel Law Group, and Reams Law.