The St. Louis‑based Eighth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decisive ruling on Monday, mandating that Missouri use the GOP‑drawn 2025 congressional map for the November 2026 general election. The decision comes just one day before absentee and mail‑in ballots are scheduled to be mailed to voters, including military and overseas citizens who have already begun receiving their ballots.
Court Reasoning
Judge Stephen R. Clark, writing for the panel, reiterated his earlier finding that Missouri’s attempt to revert to the 2022 map would violate the Constitution. “Only use of the 2025 map complies with the Constitution and federal law,” he wrote, and the panel upheld that position in its Monday order.
Map Background and Legal History
The 2025 map was drawn by Missouri’s Republican‑controlled state legislature and has already faced two procedural rejections by the U.S. Supreme Court earlier this month. Despite those setbacks, the map was used for the August primary elections after a state trial court ruled that switching back to the 2022 map would shift hundreds of thousands of voters into different districts just weeks before the general election.
Local Reaction
The Missouri Association of County Clerks and Election Authorities announced it will not adopt the 2025 map for November, arguing there is insufficient time to reprint ballots. People Not Politicians executive director Richard von Glahn echoed that concern, stating, “Ballots have been printed, and Missourians have already voted. Thousands more will vote before this order seeks to take effect. Officials should stop wasting taxpayers’ money on pointless legal action and instead focus on administering our elections.”
President Trump’s Support
President Donald Trump, a staunch advocate of the redrawn districts, condemned the Missouri Supreme Court’s earlier decision to revert to the 2022 map. In a September 4 Truth Social post, he called the ruling “ridiculously” and “unconstitutional,” warning that the state would not have enough time to change the map before the upcoming election. “The Election Process, as usual, is being disturbed in America! Missouri must be able to use the map that was in effect just a couple of months ago, in the Primary. This is a Dark Day for ‘Justice’ in Missouri!” he wrote.
Implications for the 2026 Election
The 2025 map splits the 5th Congressional District—home to the Kansas City metropolitan area—into two districts, likely eliminating one of the state’s two Democratic‑leaning districts. By preserving the GOP‑drawn boundaries, the ruling supports a more competitive environment for Republican candidates in the upcoming midterms.
Next Steps
The appeals panel delayed its ruling by a week to give opponents a chance to appeal to the Supreme Court again. However, with the November ballot deadline looming, the court’s order effectively ensures that the 2025 map will be used unless a higher court intervenes in the final days before the election.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, the Association of Missouri County Clerks, and People Not Politicians for additional comment.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
