Photo: Tom Brenner / Getty Images News / Getty Images
The U.S. Supreme Court has denied an emergency request from Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins to halt a Missouri Supreme Court ruling that mandates the use of the 2022 congressional map for the upcoming November elections. This decision, made on Tuesday (September 8), means that Missouri voters will decide on the 2025 congressional map in a referendum on the November ballot, known as Proposition A.
The Missouri Supreme Court's ruling requires the state to revert to the 2022 map, which was used in the previous elections, after citizens submitted a petition demanding a vote on the newly drawn 2025 map. The 2025 map, supported by Republicans and backed by President Donald Trump, divides Kansas City into three congressional districts, potentially altering the political landscape.
Despite the Supreme Court's decision, a federal judge in St. Louis has ordered Missouri to use the 2025 map for the November election, creating confusion over which map will ultimately be used. The federal court's temporary restraining order remains in place for 14 days, allowing time for further legal proceedings.
Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway and Secretary of State Hoskins argued that switching back to the 2022 map would cause logistical challenges and violate federal laws requiring timely distribution of absentee ballots. However, county clerks have stated that reverting to the previous map is a manageable process.
The legal battle over Missouri's congressional map reflects broader national tensions over redistricting. Missouri is one of several Republican-led states responding to calls from Trump to redraw congressional boundaries to favor the GOP. The outcome of this legal dispute will have significant implications for the state's political representation in Congress.