Missouri Supreme Court blocks use of GOP-drawn congressional map for 2026 elections
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The state Supreme Court ruled that the newly drawn congressional map cannot be used in the November 2026 general election, requiring the existing district lines to remain in place and mandating a referendum on the map for the ballot.
The Missouri Supreme Court issued an order on Thursday preventing the implementation of a congressional redistricting plan drawn by Republican leaders for the November 2026 general election. The decision requires that a voter referendum on the map be placed on the November ballot, meaning the state will use its current district boundaries for the upcoming elections.
The contested map was designed to eliminate one of Missouri's two Democratic congressional seats, targeting Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, who won his 2024 race by a large margin. The court’s opinion, written by Judge Ginger K. Gooch, enjoined Secretary of State Denny Hoskins and associated officials from using the new districts unless voters approve the plan in the upcoming referendum.
People Not Politicians Missouri, an advocacy group that collected more than 300,000 signatures to trigger the referendum, had its petition initially rejected by Hoskins, who deemed it unconstitutional. The group appealed, leading to the Supreme Court hearing.
"Never before in American history has a court overturned a congressional map after a primary and before a general election. This unprecedented decision clearly violates federal law and has thrust our state into a full-fledged constitutional crisis," said Attorney General Catherine Hanaway, who said the state will appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
"This victory reaches beyond Missouri. In a year when map-drawing has become a national weapon, courts across the country are watching what happens here," said Richard von Glahn, executive director of People Not Politicians.
The ruling arrives days before the September 8 deadline for finalizing the general-election ballot. Missouri held its August primary using the disputed map, but the Supreme Court’s order restores the prior district configuration for the November vote.