From NBC News · Lawrence Hurley · · 2m
Supreme Court blocks Missouri GOP redistricting for third time
The justices reject Republicans' attempt to use a new map in midterm elections already underway, citing electoral chaos.
In brief
The justices reject Republicans' attempt to use a new map in midterm elections already underway, citing electoral chaos. Once voting has started, courts won't change election maps mid-election, even if previous rulings favored the change. Originally reported by NBC News.
Supreme Court blocks map for third time
The justices rejected a Republican-backed congressional map in Missouri for the third time Friday, blocking an appeals court ruling that tried to revive it despite two previous Supreme Court decisions against it.
Voting already underway in Missouri
Missouri has already started sending ballots to military and overseas voters, and absentee voting began Tuesday. The court cited this as reason to block the map change mid-election.
“The election is not merely upcoming; it has already started.”
2022 map will be used for midterms
The election will proceed using a 2022 map with six Republican seats and two Democratic seats. The proposed 2025 map would have eliminated one Democratic seat held by Rep. Emanuel Cleaver.
GOP pushed map as part of nationwide effort
Missouri Republicans' redistricting push was part of a nationwide campaign by the GOP at President Trump's urging to draw new districts favoring Republican candidates. Democrats in other states responded by drawing new maps too.
Referendum triggered the legal battle
Opponents gathered enough signatures to trigger a state referendum on the new map. Under Missouri law, the map was suspended until after the vote. But Secretary of State Denny Hoskins rejected the referendum and ordered the new map used anyway.
State official held in contempt
The Missouri Supreme Court held Secretary of State Denny Hoskins in contempt for his actions, saying he was well aware that using the 2025 map in the August primary carried significant risks after a May ruling made clear it wouldn't go into effect.
Cleaver relieved the chaos has ended
Rep. Emanuel Cleaver told NBC News he was very happy with the ruling and relieved the issue is settled for November. He said his campaign will now work to address voter confusion after the district status bounced between courts.
“The manufactured chaos, you know, has at long last ended, been brought to a final state, and we can move on.”
Governor calls ruling disappointing
Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe said it was disappointing that the general election will use a different map than the primary, saying voters deserved consistency. He said Missouri will follow the court's order.
“Voters deserved consistency and certainty, and not for the rules to be changed between elections.”
The takeaway
Once voting has started, courts won't change election maps mid-election, even if previous rulings favored the change.
