Supreme Court blocks Trump-backed Missouri congressional map for 2026 election
publishers 30articles 33first reported 25 Sep, 22:06 UTCdeveloping since 26 Sep · 4 editions
The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday blocked Missouri from using a Republican-backed congressional map in the November election, requiring the state to return to district boundaries used in 2022 and 2024.
In an unsigned opinion with no noted dissents, the justices halted lower federal court orders that would have restored the map adopted by Missouri’s Republican-led legislature in 2025. The court said changing maps after absentee voting had begun and ballots had been mailed would “usher in electoral chaos.”
The 2025 map, promoted by President Donald Trump and Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe, was designed to give Republicans an opportunity to win seven of Missouri’s eight U.S. House seats, rather than the six seats they hold under the older boundaries. It significantly reshaped the Kansas City-area district represented by Democrat Emanuel Cleaver. Missouri used the new districts during its August primary.
The Missouri Supreme Court later ruled that a citizen referendum challenging the map prevented it from taking effect for the general election unless voters approve it in November. Republicans pursued a parallel federal case, arguing that using different maps for the primary and general election created constitutional problems. A federal appeals court ordered the 2025 map reinstated before the U.S. Supreme Court intervened for a third time.
Kehoe said he was disappointed that voters would use a different map in November than in the primary, but said Missouri would comply with the ruling.
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