Key facts
- Missouri's Supreme Court unanimously blocked new congressional districts supported by Donald Trump.
- The court ordered a statewide vote for citizens to decide on the new map.
- The new districts cannot be used in the November general election.
- The court ruled that a referendum petition can be used for congressional redistricting laws.
- The 2020 census map remains in effect for the 2026 election unless voters approve the new map.
The Missouri Supreme Court has unanimously blocked new congressional districts, which were supported by Donald Trump, from being used in the upcoming November election. The court has ordered a statewide vote for citizens to decide whether to uphold or reject the new map. This decision represents a significant setback for Republicans in the ongoing national redistricting efforts, as they had hoped these new boundaries would help them secure an additional seat and maintain their narrow majority in the U.S. House of Representatives. The ruling came after a year of political maneuvering and legal challenges. Following Trump's encouragement for Republicans to redraw districts to their advantage, Missouri lawmakers convened a special session to alter the 5th Congressional District, currently held by Democrat Emanuel Cleaver. Over 300,000 petition signatures were collected in December to put the map to a public vote. However, Republican Secretary of State Denny Hoskins rejected the petition in August, arguing that the referendum process is not applicable to congressional redistricting laws. A lower court initially sided with Hoskins, but the state's highest court overturned this decision. The Supreme Court stated that the referendum petition was legal, sufficient, and timely, and that the legislation containing the new districts will not take effect unless approved by voters. Consequently, the congressional map established after the 2020 census will remain in place for the November 2026 general election. The court's decision hinges on its interpretation of the Missouri Constitution, which allows for a referendum on 'any act' of the Legislature, encompassing congressional redistricting laws. Attorneys for Hoskins and Republican committees had argued that reverting to the prior districts so close to the general election would cause confusion. The reshaped 5th District, which now includes rural Republican areas, had about 59% new voters according to an Associated Press estimate. Cleaver, who was unopposed in the August primary, had vowed to continue his reelection campaign regardless of the court's decision. Republican state Sen. Rick Brattin won an August primary in the reshaped fifth congressional district.