The U.S. Supreme Court has blocked Missouri from using a new congressional map favored by Republicans for the upcoming November elections. The decision, issued Thursday, suspends a ruling by a federal judge that allowed the reconfigured boundaries, and reinstates a Missouri Supreme Court decision invalidating the map. The state will likely use the previous map from 2022, which includes six seats held by Republicans and two by Democrats.
The legal battle began after Missouri Republicans enacted the new map in 2025 as part of a broader nationwide redistricting push. Opponents gathered signatures for a state referendum to undo the map, but Secretary of State Denny Hoskins delayed a decision on including the measure on the ballot, ultimately rejecting it. The Missouri Supreme Court, with a majority of Republican appointees, ruled that the new map was not legally enacted and suspended it for the 2026 election.
Judge Stephen Clark then ruled on Tuesday that the new map could be used this year, prompting an appeal to the Supreme Court. Justice Kavanaugh previously rejected a request from Hoskins to block the Missouri Supreme Court ruling. The Trump administration filed a brief supporting Hoskins, arguing that blocking Clark’s ruling would jeopardize the ability to conduct a timely election. Hoskins’ lawyers contended that allowing the new map was the only way to avoid disenfranchising voters who participated in the primary election under the new boundaries.
People Not Politicians, led by activist Richard von Glahn, brought the emergency request that the Supreme Court granted. Von Glahn stated, “The law is the law, the Missouri constitution is clear, as was the Missouri Supreme Court,” and criticized Hoskins’ handling of the situation. The Missouri Supreme Court is also considering whether to hold Hoskins in contempt for defying its previous ruling, with a hearing scheduled Thursday.
The new map aimed to eliminate one of Missouri’s two Democratic-held seats, currently held by Rep. Emanuel Cleaver.
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