Supreme Court Blocks Missouri's New House Map
The U.S. Supreme Court rejected Missouri Republicans' request to use a newly drawn congressional map for the November midterm elections, upholding a state supreme court decision that the map must be put to a voter referendum. The ruling preserves the 2022 congressional map, which includes six Republican and two Democratic seats.
Consensus
- The Supreme Court rejected Missouri Republicans' appeal to use a newly drawn congressional map in the November election.
- The Missouri Supreme Court had ruled that the new map must be put to a statewide referendum.
- The 2022 congressional map will remain in place for the November election.
- A petition with thousands of signatures was submitted to force a referendum on the new map.
- Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins initially rejected the petition, claiming redistricting plans are not subject to voter referendum.
- The Missouri Supreme Court found the petition was legal, sufficient, and timely.
- Under Missouri state law, a valid referendum petition automatically suspends the law until voters decide.
- The Supreme Court's decision was issued in a brief order by Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
- The new map was used in the August primaries but is not being used for the general election.
Points of divergence
- The Missouri Supreme Court ruled that the new districts were automatically suspended by a citizen petition, and the state must revert to districts adopted after the last Census. — pbs
- The Missouri Supreme Court unanimously concluded there is nothing in state law that exempts redistricting plans from the referendum process. — nbcnews
- Republican state Attorney General Catherine Hanaway argued that switching districts between primary and general elections would violate federal rights and cause confusion. — pbs
- Hoskins argued that the state court ruling violated the U.S. Constitutional elections clause, which delegates significant powers to state legislatures. — nbcnews
- The revised map targeted the 5th District held by Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, reassigned parts of Kansas City to neighboring Republican districts, and stretched Cleaver’s district eastward into rural Republican areas. — pbs
- The 2025 Republican redistricting map was designed to eliminate one of Missouri’s two Democratic-held seats. — nbcnews
Coverage (2 sources)
- Supreme Court rejects Missouri's push to use new Republican-drawn U.S. House map in November — PBS NewsHour
- Supreme Court rejects Missouri Republicans’ request to use new congressional map — NBC News
Key entities
- Missouri
- Associated Press
- Supreme Court
- Washington
- Lindsay Whitehurst
- David A. Lieb
- U.S.
- Donald Trump
- AP
- the Missouri Supreme Court's