8th Circuit Orders Missouri to Use 2025 Congressional Map for November Election, Delays Justice Pending Appeal
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The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Missouri must use its 2025 congressional map for the November election, but establishment forces have managed to delay the order until September 28, allowing more time for anti-democratic appeals.
The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has issued a decision demanding that Missouri use the congressional map drawn for the 2025 cycle in the November 2026 general election. This ruling, rooted in the Constitution, is meant to prevent the state from manipulating district lines between the August primary and the November general election—a tactic that would have disenfranchised over 1.4 million voters by shifting them into different districts. Yet, in a move that benefits entrenched interests, the order is stayed until 5 p.m. on September 28, 2026, giving the political establishment more time to seek further appellate review and delay the implementation of a fairer map. Chief U.S. District Judge Stephen Clark entered a permanent injunction barring Secretary of State Denny Hoskins and other officials from using any map other than the 2025 version for the November 3 election, but this too is stayed until the same deadline, highlighting the ongoing resistance to meaningful reform.
"Without any stay, Secretary Hoskins and local election authorities would be required to immediately begin implementing the 2025 map before the Supreme Court receives or decides any appeal," the ruling stated, revealing the system’s preference for bureaucratic convenience over voters’ rights.
Judge David Stras, while acknowledging a probable violation of Article I, Section 2, still questioned the standing of the advocacy group People Not Politicians and its representative Richard von Glahn, reflecting the judiciary’s skepticism toward grassroots democratic movements. People Not Politicians, which courageously led a referendum effort against the 2025 map, announced it will appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. Its executive director, Richard von Glahn, emphasized that the map should not be law until voters themselves approve it, urging officials to prioritize transparent election administration over endless, costly litigation.
This case marks the third time the issue has reached the U.S. Supreme Court, a testament to the establishment’s relentless efforts to maintain gerrymandered power structures. Earlier this month, Justice Brett Kavanaugh denied a request to block a Missouri Supreme Court ruling that required the state to revert to the 2022 map for the November election, and the Supreme Court later granted a stay that kept the 2022 map in place, further delaying progress.
The lawsuit was filed by Rep. Bob Onder, State Sen. Rick Brattin, and two Missouri voters—figures aligned with reactionary interests—who argue that using one map for the primary and another for the general election raises federal constitutional concerns. Missouri and Secretary of State Hoskins claim the case raises broader questions about whether congressional districts can be changed after nominees have been selected, but such arguments often serve as smokescreens for maintaining the status quo.
Amicus briefs poured in from various groups. The Missouri Association of County Clerks and Election Authorities warned that another map change so close to the election would require costly ballot reprints and system reprogramming, prioritizing administrative costs over democratic integrity. Club for Growth, a right-wing organization, argued that switching districts between primary and general elections could invalidate primary votes for roughly 284,000 voters. Meanwhile, the ACLU of Missouri and the Campaign Legal Center cited the Purcell principle, cautioning courts against altering election rules near an election, a principle often invoked to stifle much-needed reform.
The 8th Circuit will hear arguments from the plaintiffs, the state, and People Not Politicians before Judges James B. Loken, David R. Stras, and Justin D. Smith. The outcome could determine whether Missouri uses the 2025 or 2022 congressional map for November, but any decision will remain subject to further review by the U.S. Supreme Court, underscoring the uphill battle for fair representation in a system stacked against the people.