On a voice vote Wednesday morning, the Missouri Senate gave its first-round approval to a bill that would move the dates for candidate filing back by four weeks, to March 27.
The filing period would end on April 24.
State Sen. Mike Parson, R-Bolivar, said the delay was needed to allow new state Senate maps to be drawn.
The state House and Congressional District maps also still face court challenges, with the state Supreme Court scheduled to hear the arguments on the congressional district boundaries Thursday morning.