The Missouri Supreme Court issued a unanimous opinion on Sept. 3 that blocks the use of a Republican‑drawn congressional map for the upcoming November midterm elections. The court ordered that the maps approved in 2022 remain on the ballot, effectively rejecting the referendum petition filed by the anti‑gerrymandering group People Not Politicians.
Legal background
HB 1, the 2025 law signed by Republican Governor Mike Kehoe, would have placed the newly drawn maps before voters. The petition to force the referendum gathered enough signatures, but Secretary of State Denny Hoskins refused to certify it, claiming the petition violated the state constitution. A circuit court initially sided with Hoskins, but the state Supreme Court reversed that ruling, declaring the petition “legal, sufficient and timely.”
Impact on the 2022 maps
The court’s decision also reinstates the 2022 congressional districts for the November general election. The opinion makes clear that HB 1 will not take effect unless Missouri voters approve it in a future referendum. As a result, the August 4 House primaries were conducted using the 2022 boundaries, and the same maps will now be used for the November contest.
Political stakes
Republicans had hoped the new map would dismantle the Kansas City district currently held by Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, potentially adding a Republican seat in the U.S. House. By keeping the 2022 map, the court preserves the existing partisan balance in Missouri’s congressional delegation.
Reactions from leaders
President Donald Trump took to social media on Sept. 3, calling the ruling “horrible, ridiculous, and unConstitutional.” He urged Missouri to use the struck‑down maps, warning that “the Election Process, as usual, is being disturbed in America!” Governor Kehoe expressed “extreme disappointment,” blaming “unelected judges” for a “lack of respect for the legislative process.” He pledged to stand behind the maps as the legal process moves forward.
Eric Holder, chairman of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee and former U.S. Attorney General, defended the court’s decision, saying the state Supreme Court was simply interpreting Missouri law and that the federal Supreme Court should not intervene.
Grassroots response
People Not Politicians celebrated the ruling, with executive director Richard von Glahn stating, “This is what democracy looks like. The people of Missouri demanded a voice, and the court just confirmed what we’ve been saying all along. People, not politicians, will have the final say.”
Broader context
Both Republican‑ and Democratic‑controlled states have redrawn maps in recent years, but a 2024 U.S. Supreme Court decision allowed several conservative Southern states to eliminate districts with significant Black populations, boosting Republican chances nationwide. Overall, Republicans improved their odds in 16 districts, including the contested Missouri seat, while Democrats gained an edge in six districts. The House now sits with a narrow Republican majority of 219‑214, including one independent who caucuses with the GOP.
What voters need to know
Missouri voters will see the 2022 congressional districts on the November ballot. No new primary will be held under the rejected map, and the general election will proceed as scheduled. Voters who support the Republican‑drawn map will need to pursue a future referendum to overturn the court’s decision.
Original reporting: Las Cruces Sun News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
