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Updated April 23, 2025 — A legal tug-of-war over Missouri’s congressional map has reshaped how thousands of voters will cast ballots in the upcoming general election. Here’s a breakdown of the differences between the 2022 and 2025 district boundaries, and where the court fight stands now.
The most significant shifts occur in St. Louis County and along the Interstate 70 corridor. The 2025 map created a second majority-Black district in the St. Louis area by pulling parts of north St. Louis County into a new configuration. In contrast, the 2022 map packed most Black voters into a single district, diluting their influence in surrounding seats.
In central Missouri, the new boundaries split Boone County between two districts rather than keeping it whole. That change boosted the Republican lean of the 4th District while making the 3rd District more competitive. Kansas City area lines also shifted slightly to align with population growth in suburban Jackson and Clay counties.
On a Tuesday in late July 2024, a federal judge in Kansas City issued a temporary restraining order blocking Missouri from using its 2022 map in the November election. The order came after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to intervene, leaving the state scrambling. The judge ruled that the old map likely violated the Voting Rights Act by diluting Black voting strength.
The August 2024 primary was conducted using the 2025-approved map, and winners were certified by election officials. As of April 2025, the state has been ordered to permanently use the 2025 map for all future elections, though an appeal is pending before the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Voters in St. Louis County and Boone County should check their polling place and district assignment before heading to the polls in 2025. Interactive maps from the Missouri Secretary of State’s website allow residents to enter their address and see their new district.
For candidates, the map shift forced several incumbents to either move or face entirely new electorates. U.S. Rep. Cori Bush (D-St. Louis) now represents a district that stretches further north, while Rep. Sam Graves (R-Tarkio) lost some rural counties to neighboring districts. The changes could tip the balance of power in at least two races.
“The 2025 map is a textbook example of how redistricting can either empower or suppress communities of color,” said Dr. Lisa Montoya, a political science professor at the University of Missouri. “By creating a second compact majority-minority district, Missouri is now compliant with Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, but the legal fight isn’t over.”
Montoya noted that if the Eighth Circuit upholds the lower court’s ruling, the 2025 map will likely set the standard for the next decade. If it overturns the order, the state could revert to the 2022 lines — a scenario that election officials dread.
The Eighth Circuit is expected to issue a decision by late summer 2025. In the meantime, the 2025 map remains in effect. Voters should pay close attention to candidate filings in their specific district, as the boundaries may shift again if the appeal reverses the judge’s order.
Missouri’s map saga underscores the ongoing national debate over gerrymandering and fair representation. For now, the differences between 2022 and 2025 are clear — and they’re already changing political calculations in the Show-Me State.
