Supreme Court Upholds Missouri’s Current Congressional Map
The Supreme Court rejected an attempt to reinstate Missouri’s updated congressional map backed by former president Trump, stopping further legal challenges ahead of the November midterm elections. This decision puts an end to a contentious legal battle that risked disrupting the voting process as absentee ballots had already been issued.
In an unsigned opinion, the justices stated that implementing a new map at this time would result in ‘electoral chaos.’ As a result, Missouri will continue using the congressional districts established after the 2020 census. These districts will apply to the November elections, maintaining the same district lines used in the 2022 and 2024 elections.
Governor Mike Kehoe expressed disappointment on social media, noting that voters deserved stability and not shifting rules between different electoral phases. Despite this, Missouri will comply with the Court’s decision.
The Court underscored that the election process was already in motion. They noted that ballots reflecting the 2022 map had been printed and distributed, and absentee, military, and overseas voting had commenced. Election officials had also indicated that reverting to the proposed 2025 map was not feasible at such a late stage.
Richard von Glahn, representing People Not Politicians Missouri, welcomed the ruling, emphasizing the need for citizens, not politicians, to decide. He signaled an ongoing opposition to Proposition A in the upcoming referendum.
How Missouri’s Map Changed
The proposed 2025 map redefined the 5th Congressional District, which covers parts of Kansas City and is represented by Democrat Emanuel Cleaver. The new borders removed sections of the city, extending into rural areas traditionally favoring Republicans. This alteration impacted several districts, with Republicans aiming to secure an additional House seat.
Republicans currently hold six of Missouri’s eight congressional seats. The new districts were initially used in Missouri’s August primary. But for the general election, the old boundaries will apply. Missouri voters will ultimately decide on the 2025 map in the November referendum.
Republican State Senator Rick Brattin, having secured the GOP primary for the 5th District under the revised map, and Cleaver, unopposed in the Democratic primary, remain candidates for the general elections despite these changes.
Legal Battles Around Redistricting
Missouri’s redistricting efforts resulted in at least 16 lawsuits in state and federal courts. Challenges included claims that the mid-decade redistricting violated Missouri’s constitution and that the new district shapes lacked compactness.
The revised map survived various challenges, though Republican Secretary of State Denny Hoskins initially rejected a statewide referendum on it until a legal decision required otherwise. The Missouri Supreme Court validated the referendum request, ensuring ballots use districts from the 2020 census.
When U.S. District Judge Stephen Clark contradicted this, the Supreme Court intervened to uphold the state court’s decision. The Eight Circuit later endorsed the Trump-supported map, but Friday’s ruling by the Supreme Court blocked any further changes, concluding a convoluted sequence of legal maneuvers.