Supreme Court Blocks Missouri’s Republican-Drawn 2025 Congressional Map

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Friday that Missouri must use its 2022 congressional districts in the November midterm election, blocking a Republican-backed 2025 map designed to favor the GOP in seven of the state’s eight districts.

In an unsigned five-page decision with no noted dissents, the justices granted an emergency request from the anti-gerrymandering group People Not Politicians and blocked an appeals court ruling that would have required use of the newer map. The court said federal judges should not change election rules after voting has begun, citing ballots already sent to military and overseas voters and the start of absentee voting.

“The election is not merely upcoming; it has already started,” the court said, warning that switching maps during the election would create “electoral chaos.” The decision was the third Supreme Court action rejecting efforts to use the 2025 districts, according to NBC News.

Missouri’s Supreme Court ruled Sept. 3 that the 2025 map had not taken effect under the state constitution because a citizen petition triggered a referendum. Voters are expected to decide whether to approve it in the 2026 election. The federal appeals court had subsequently sought to revive the map, in part because it was used during the primary.

The 2022 map, under which Republicans currently hold six seats and Democrats two, will remain in place for the Nov. 3 election.