Missouri Supreme Court blocks Trump-backed House map from November midterms

The Missouri Supreme Court unanimously blocked the GOP-drawn 2025 congressional map from use in the November 2026 general election.

The court ordered a statewide referendum on the new map for the November ballot.

The congressional districts drawn after the 2020 census remain in force for the November 2026 general election.

The court said the referendum petition was legal, sufficient, and timely, and that the secretary of state was wrong to reject it.

The 2025 map did not take effect and will not take effect unless voters approve it.

The court enjoined Secretary of State Denny Hoskins from using the 2025 map unless voters approve it, with the map taking effect 30 days after approval.

The court reversed a lower-court ruling that had sided with Hoskins.

The court said the Missouri Constitution authorizes a referendum on any act of the General Assembly and no exception applies to congressional redistricting.

Attorney General Catherine Hanaway said she will immediately appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Hanaway said never before has a court overturned a congressional map after a primary and before a general election.

Hanaway said the decision clearly violates federal law and has thrust Missouri into a constitutional crisis.

Hanaway said the ruling disenfranchises every Missouri voter.

President Trump called the ruling horrible, ridiculous, and unconstitutional.

Trump said the court ridiculously ruled to change the maps back to what they were a long time ago.

Trump said there will not be enough time to change the map back before the election.

Trump said Missouri must be able to use the map that was in effect in the primary.

Trump called the ruling a dark day for justice in Missouri.

Trump said the election process is being disturbed in America.

Opponents submitted more than 300,000 petition signatures seeking a referendum.

Secretary of State Denny Hoskins rejected the petition as legally insufficient or unconstitutional.

Hoskins waited until primary Election Day in August to reject the petition.

Missouri's Republican-led legislature passed the map in a September 2025 special session and Gov. Mike Kehoe signed it.

The map was designed to help Republicans win an extra House seat and move the state's delegation from 6-2 toward 7-1.

The map targeted Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver's Kansas City-area 5th District by stretching it into rural Republican areas.

Missouri's August primary was held under the new map.

The ruling came days before a Sept. 8 deadline to finalize the general-election ballot.

Five of the seven justices on the Missouri Supreme Court were appointed by Republican governors.

Cleaver said more than 305,000 Missourians demanded a say and that the people fought back and won.

Cleaver said democracy prevails and that people should choose their politicians.

People Not Politicians director Richard von Glahn said people, not politicians, will have the final say.

The group People Not Politicians spearheaded the referendum petition.

The last time Missouri voters considered a congressional map by referendum was in 1922.

About 10 states have changed their congressional maps this cycle.

Trump encouraged Republican-led states to redraw congressional maps mid-decade.

People rallied outside the Missouri Supreme Court chanting "Let us vote."

Jefferson City resident Grant Christensen said gerrymandering is the same as voter suppression.

Hoskins issued a Certificate of Insufficiency of Petition stating the constitution does not authorize a referendum on congressional redistricting.

Congressional maps are normally redrawn once every 10 years to reflect census results.