The Missouri Supreme Court on Thursday unanimously ruled that a new, more Republican-friendly congressional map cannot be used in the upcoming midterm elections. The decision mandates that the map, which had been approved by the GOP-led state legislature and signed by Governor Mike Kehoe in September, must first be approved by voters in a statewide referendum scheduled for November.
In its ruling, the court stated that the referendum petition seeking a public vote on the map was legal, sufficient, and timely, contradicting the earlier conclusion by the Republican Secretary of State Denny Hoskins. The previous congressional map will remain in effect for the November general election.
This ruling comes after citizens submitted petition signatures to challenge the new map, which was used in the state's August primaries. The revised map was expected to give the GOP an advantage in one currently Democratic-held House seat, potentially shifting the state's congressional delegation from its current balance of six Republicans and two Democrats to seven Republicans and one Democrat. The lone Democratic seat was held by Rep. Wesley Bell (D-Mo.).
Former President Donald Trump reacted strongly to the decision on Truth Social, calling it a "Dark Day for ‘Justice’ in Missouri!“ and describing the ruling as "ridiculous" and "unConstitutional." He expressed concern that there might not be enough time to change the map before the election, calling it a disturbance to the election process.
Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway criticized the decision as unprecedented and a violation of federal law, stating that it thrust the state into a "full‑fledged constitutional crisis." She vowed to seek relief from the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing that the state Supreme Court's decision would disenfranchise Missouri voters. Five of the seven judges on the state Supreme Court were appointed by Republican governors.
Attorneys for Secretary of State Denny Hoskins and GOP committees had argued that reverting to the old map close to the midterm elections would cause confusion and chaos. A lower court had previously rejected the bid to put the new districts up for a vote, citing a provision in the Missouri Constitution that purportedly prohibits referendums on congressional redistricting enacted by the General Assembly. Hoskins had also rejected the petition signatures on similar grounds before the state's highest court intervened.