The Missouri Supreme Court on Thursday unanimously blocked newly enacted Republican-backed congressional districts from being used in the upcoming November midterm elections. The court ruled that the map, which aimed to increase the Republican advantage in the state's congressional delegation, must first be approved by voters in a statewide referendum.
This decision represents a significant setback for Republicans in the national redistricting process, as they had hoped the new map would secure them an additional House seat and bolster their slim majority. The court found that a referendum petition, filed after opponents submitted over 300,000 signatures, prevented the new districts from taking effect unless voters gave their approval.
Republican Secretary of State Denny Hoskins had previously rejected the petition, arguing that the referendum process was not applicable to congressional redistricting. However, the state Supreme Court overturned his decision, stating, "The referendum petition was legal, sufficient, and timely, and the secretary incorrectly concluded otherwise." The court affirmed that the measure containing the new districts "did not go into effect and will not go into effect unless and until approved by the voters."
Consequently, the congressional map adopted following the 2020 census will remain in effect for the November elections. The new map, drawn by the Republican-controlled legislature and signed by Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe last September, had been used in the primaries last month. It was designed to make the district of longtime Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, who represents the Kansas City area, more favorable to Republicans by shifting it eastward to include rural, right-leaning voters. The intended outcome was to create a potential 7-1 Republican advantage in Missouri's eight congressional seats.
Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway, a Republican, announced plans to appeal the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court, calling the decision "unprecedented" and a violation of federal law that thrusts the state into a "full-fledged constitutional crisis." Former President Donald Trump echoed these sentiments on Truth Social, describing the ruling as "ridiculous" and "unConstitutional," and expressing concern that there would not be enough time to implement a new map before the election.
Governor Kehoe also voiced disappointment, criticizing the "unelected judges" and their alleged lack of respect for the legislative process, noting that holding primaries under one map and a general election under another creates uncertainty for voters. He stated that the administration stands by the "Missouri First Map."
However, Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver celebrated the ruling as a victory for democracy, stating, "More than 305,000 Missourians demanded a say in who will represent them in the halls of Congress." He added, "This reaffirms that the people should choose their politicians, not the other way around. Democracy prevails." Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin also hailed the decision as a "big win for democracy and the people of Missouri."