The Missouri Supreme Court indicated Tuesday it is considering holding Secretary of State Denny Hoskins in contempt as a dispute over proposed congressional maps intensifies.
Hoskins, a Republican, stated he would continue to use the congressional districts that were redrawn last year, despite a U.S. Supreme Court decision that upheld a state Supreme Court order to revert to the previous district boundaries.
"I look forward to my day in court," Hoskins posted on X, referencing the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution. He is scheduled to appear in court Thursday to explain why he should not be held in contempt for directing election officials to use the 2025 congressional map, even though an injunction prohibits its use.
Last week, the state's high court blocked the new redistricting map and mandated a statewide referendum in November to decide its fate. This action comes amidst a push by state Republicans to redraw the congressional map.
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh declined to grant an emergency stay requested by Hoskins, thereby leaving the injunction issued by the state Supreme Court in effect. However, shortly after Kavanaugh's announcement, U.S. District Judge Stephen Clark, appointed by President Trump, issued a temporary restraining order that prohibits Missouri from using any map other than the new 2025 districts.
Opponents of the new redistricting plan immediately filed a notice to appeal Clark's order to the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. "An individual federal judge cannot overrule the Missouri Supreme Court," stated attorney Chuck Hatfield, representing People Not Politicians, the group that sponsored the referendum petition.
Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway indicated her compliance with Clark's order, which she contended "binds the state to using" the new congressional districts. "We maintain that changing the congressional map in between the primary and general elections is simply not feasible and profoundly unjust to Missouri voters," she wrote on X.
The conflict is part of a wider national effort by Republicans to redraw congressional districts mid-decade to secure additional U.S. House seats. Missouri currently has six Republicans and two Democrats in the U.S. House. The proposed redistricting plan would eliminate one Democratic seat, currently held by Rep. Emanuel Cleaver.