Missouri Supreme Court Blocks New Congressional Maps Ahead of Midterm Elections

<p>The Missouri Supreme Court on Thursday unanimously blocked newly enacted Republican-backed congressional districts from being used in November's midterm elections, ruling that voters must first approve the map in a statewide referendum.</p><p>The ruling marks a setback for Republicans in a national redistricting battle.</p><p>The GOP had aimed to use Missouri’s new congressional map to help them win an additional seat and maintain its slim House majority.</p><p>The court ruled that the referendum petition, filed in December after opponents submitted more than 300,000 signatures, prevented the new districts from taking effect unless approved by voters.</p><p>Republican Secretary of State Denny Hoskins waited until primary Election Day last month to reject the petition, arguing that the referendum process cannot be used for congressional redistricting. A lower court sided with Hoskins, but the state Supreme Court overturned his decision.</p><p>The court stated, "The referendum petition was legal, sufficient, and timely, and the secretary incorrectly concluded otherwise." The measure with the new districts "did not go into effect and will not go into effect unless and until approved by the voters."</p><p>The congressional map adopted after the 2020 census "remains in full force and effect for the November 2026 general election," the court said.</p><p>Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway, a Republican, plans to appeal the case to the U.S. Supreme Court. She stated, "Never before in American history has a court overturned a congressional map after a primary and before a general election. This unprecedented decision clearly violates federal law and has thrust our state into a full‑fledged constitutional crisis."</p><p>President Donald Trump criticized the ruling, calling it "ridiculous" and unconstitutional, arguing that there will not be enough time to change the map before November's elections.</p><p>Missouri’s new districts were used in the primaries last month, but the state Supreme Court ruled they cannot be used again unless voters first uphold the new districts passed by the GOP-controlled legislature and signed by Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe last September.</p><p>Kehoe expressed disappointment in the decision, stating, "Holding a primary election under one congressional map and a general election under another is unprecedented and creates uncertainty for Missouri voters."</p><p>Five of the seven current justices on the Missouri Supreme Court, including the chief justice, were appointed by Republican governors.</p><p>The new map targeted longtime Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver's Kansas City-area district by shifting it eastward to include rural right-leaning voters. The map was intended to make Cleaver's district more favorable to Republicans.</p><p>Cleaver responded to the ruling by saying, "The people fought back and won." He noted that more than 305,000 Missourians demanded a say in their congressional representation.</p><p>Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin also called it a "big win for democracy and the people of Missouri," stating that Democrats will continue fighting against Republican gerrymandering.</p>