The Supreme Court denied Missouri's attempt to implement a congressional map that would have benefited Republicans in the upcoming November midterm elections. This decision rejects a last-minute appeal from the state, which had sought to use the redrawn districts for the elections.
Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who handles emergency litigation for Missouri, refused to overturn a previous ruling by the state's highest court. The state Supreme Court had determined that the new map, which was used in the primary, was invalid and could not be utilized unless approved by voters in a ballot referendum. This marks a setback for Republicans and President Donald Trump's efforts to maintain the party's slim majority in the House of Representatives.
The dispute began last year when Missouri redrew its congressional map, known as HB 1, with the aim of securing seven out of the state's eight U.S. House seats for Republicans. Opponents of the map, including Richard von Glahn and People Not Politicians, gathered over 300,000 signatures to put the map to a statewide vote. Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins rejected the petition, leading to legal challenges. The Missouri Supreme Court sided with the opponents, stating that the state constitution allows for a referendum on such legislation.
Following Justice Kavanaugh's initial denial, a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order directing the state to use the 2025 map. This led to further appeals to the Supreme Court by People Not Politicians and von Glahn, seeking to block the federal judge's order. The situation has created significant confusion for election officials, with conflicting judicial commands regarding which map to use.
This marks the second time the Supreme Court has been asked to intervene in the dispute over Missouri's congressional map. The ongoing legal battle highlights the challenges and complexities of redistricting, particularly when it intersects with state constitutional provisions for voter referendums and federal election clauses.
