Missouri Supreme Court news
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
The U.S. Supreme Court blocked Missouri from using its new Republican-drawn congressional map in November.
The fight now centers on whether the 2022 map returns and whether a state.
Background
Missouri Republicans enacted a new congressional map in 2025 as part of a nationwide redistricting push. A referendum petition aimed at overturning that map was rejected by Secretary of State Denny Hoskins on Aug. 4, the day of Missouri's primary, but the Missouri Supreme Court ruled the petition was valid and that the 2025 map never took effect. The dispute bounced between the Missouri Supreme Court, a federal district judge, the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court within a week.
How it unfolded
- Aug 4, 2026Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins rejected the referendum petition on the day of Missouri's primary, citing constitutional objections raised by Attorney General Catherine Hanaway.
- Sep 2, 2026The Missouri Supreme Court held oral arguments on the redistricting dispute.
- Sep 3, 2026The Missouri Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the referendum could go before voters in November and that the 2025 map never took effect, leaving the 2022 map in place.
- Sep 8, 2026The Missouri Supreme Court ordered Hoskins to explain why he should not be held in contempt after he sent an email instructing election officials to use the 2025 map.
- Sep 9, 2026A federal judge in St. Louis ordered Missouri to use the 2025 map, conflicting with the state Supreme Court's ruling; map opponents returned to the U.S. Supreme Court.
- Sep 10, 2026The U.S. Supreme Court blocked the federal judge's order, restoring the Missouri Supreme Court's ruling; the state Supreme Court held a contempt hearing on Hoskins but issued no ruling.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Hoskins said his office is directing local election authorities to use the 2022 congressional map in compliance with the U.S. Supreme Court order.
- Support
- Referendum organizer Richard von Glahn said the courts have settled the matter and it is now up to Missouri voters to vote no on Proposition A.
- Party
- Republican attorneys general from Florida, Texas and 18 other states filed in support of Missouri, arguing it is not legal to change voting districts between the primary and the general election.
Still unverified
It is not yet clear how election officials will conduct a general election using a map different from the one used in the August primary; the courts have given no specific guidance on how nominees should be selected. The Missouri Supreme Court held a contempt hearing on Hoskins but issued no ruling.