A Jackson County circuit judge in Missouri ruled Thursday that a new congressional map backed by Republican lawmakers can remain in place for the upcoming midterm elections.

The Campaign Legal Center, the American Civil Liberties Union, and ACLU of Missouri had filed a lawsuit on behalf of Missouri voters challenging the redistricting effort. The plaintiffs argued that the mid-decade redrawing of congressional boundaries was unlawful.

The new map is considered favorable to Republican candidates and has received support from former President Donald Trump. The redistricting represents a mid-decade adjustment to the state's congressional boundaries.

The court's decision means the GOP-friendly districts will be used in the upcoming midterm elections. Legal challenges to redistricting efforts have become common across the country as states redraw congressional and legislative maps following the 2020 census.