From Slate Magazine · Billy Corriher · · 1m 20s
Republican Judges Defy Supreme Court to Boost GOP
8th Circuit judges force Missouri to use gerrymandered districts despite Supreme Court order.
In brief
8th Circuit judges force Missouri to use gerrymandered districts despite Supreme Court order. Missouri Republicans used gerrymandered districts for November 2026 elections after federal judges overruled Supreme Court twice. Originally reported by Slate Magazine.
Quick answers
- What happened?
- The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled for Missouri Republicans to use gerrymandered congressional districts in November 2026 elections.
- Who was involved?
- The panel included two Trump appointees and one Republican judge.
- When and where?
- The ruling occurred in Missouri for November 2026 elections.
- Why did they do it?
- To help Republicans maintain control of Congress by using districts that violate state law.
- What did they say?
- Federal courts must intervene in state-law matters if they affect federal elections.
What happened?
The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled for Missouri Republicans to use gerrymandered congressional districts in November 2026 elections.
“The 8th Circuit was already smacked down by the Supreme Court, twice, for intervening in this lawsuit”
Who was involved?
The panel included two Trump appointees and one Republican judge.
“The panel includes a couple of donald trump appointees and another republican”
When and where?
The ruling occurred in Missouri for November 2026 elections.
“The judges noted that if the districts that comply with state law are used, more than 1.4 million missourians could not vote for the congressional district nominees”
Why did they do it?
To help Republicans maintain control of Congress by using districts that violate state law.
“The 8th Circuit didn’t bother to explain whether any of those circumstances also violates a constitutional provision that doesn’t ever mention primary elections”
What did they say?
Federal courts must intervene in state-law matters if they affect federal elections.
“Allowing state courts to issue, without any federal-court review, last-minute decisions affecting the conduct of federal elections would potentially allow a handful of state judges to render decisions that decide the outcome of a presidential election”
What happened next?
The Supreme Court ordered Missouri to comply with the state court’s ruling on district legality.
“The justices in washington have declined several republican attempts to upset state-court rulings on gerrymandering”
What’s the problem?
The districts violate state law and could disenfranchise over 1.4 million voters.
“More than 1.4 million missourians could not vote for the congressional district nominees who will appear on their november 2026 general election ballot”
Why is this big?
It expands federal courts’ power to override state law in election matters.
“The 8th Circuit didn’t bother to explain whether any of those circumstances also violates a constitutional provision that doesn’t ever mention primary elections”
What’s next?
Missouri must hold elections in different districts than used for primaries.
“If the u.s. supreme court does the right thing again, missouri will have to scramble to hold the election in different districts than it used for the primary”
What’s the consequence?
Over 1.4 million Missourians risk being disenfranchised in November 2.
“More than 1.4 million missourians could not vote for the congressional district nominees who will appear on their november 2026 general election ballot”
The one thing
Missouri Republicans used gerrymandered districts for November 2026 elections after federal judges overruled Supreme Court twice.
