Supreme news
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The gist
The Supreme Court blocked Missouri from using its new Republican-drawn congressional map for November's midterms.
The ruling leaves the state's old map in place, shaping which party contests key.
Background
Missouri Republicans passed a new congressional map (HB 1) after the state had already held its Aug. 4 primaries under the previous map. The Missouri Supreme Court ruled that a referendum could be used to challenge the redistricting, effectively barring Secretary of State Denny Hoskins from using the new map. Hoskins then asked the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene, arguing that switching maps mid-cycle would violate federal law and disrupt the general election. The high court declined to let the new map take effect for November.
How it unfolded
- Aug 4, 2026Missouri held its congressional primaries under the existing map.
- Sep 8, 2026Justice Kavanaugh rejected Hoskins's request to block the Missouri Supreme Court ruling.
- Sep 9, 2026The redistricting dispute returned to the U.S. Supreme Court.
- Sep 10, 2026The Supreme Court blocked Missouri's attempt to use the newly drawn Republican congressional map.
Who’s saying what
- Support
- Attorneys for challenger von Glahn praised Kavanaugh's decision to let the Missouri Supreme Court's ruling stand, arguing the secretary's scheme should not be rewarded.
- Caution
- The Trump administration filed a brief backing Hoskins, saying that blocking the ruling would jeopardize state officials' ability to conduct a timely and lawful federal election.
Still unverified
A federal judge revived Missouri's GOP gerrymander right after the Supreme Court rejected the state's emergency bid, according to Democracy Docket; this development is reported by a single source and its current status is not confirmed by the other retrieved material.