Missouri Redistricting Fight Returns to Supreme Court for Third Time

Politics18 sourcesSep 23, 2026

UnscoredFactual rigor 48/100

The Story

Opponents of Missouri's new congressional map asked the Supreme Court on Tuesday night to block a federal appeals court decision that instructed the state to use the map in the November 2026 elections.

Lawyer Abha Khanna, representing the challengers, stated the appeals court's orders were not invitations for a lower court to repackage the same relief and try again. Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who handles emergency appeals from the US Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit, directed the state and supporters of the new map to respond by 2 p.m. EDT on Wednesday.

The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday directed Missouri officials to use the 2025 map, ruling that using different maps for the primary and general election was unconstitutional. Only use of the 2025 map complies with the Constitution and federal law. The court reasoned that using the old maps would invalidate primary votes and force some Missourians to vote for candidates not on their primary ballot.

This marks the third time the dispute over Missouri's congressional map has reached the Supreme Court. The justices had also left in place a Missouri Supreme Court decision requiring the state to use its previous 2022 map, ruling the new districts could not take effect without voter approval in a statewide referendum. The new map, adopted in 2025 with President Donald Trump’s encouragement, is intended to give Republicans an additional seat in the US House of Representatives.

It reshapes a Kansas City-based district held by Democratic Representative Emanuel Cleaver. Republicans hope the map could help them win seven of the state’s eight House seats, one more than they currently hold. Opponents, including the group People Not Politicians and its executive director Richard von Glahn, submitted over 300,000 signatures for a petition to put the new map to a vote.

Missouri’s Secretary of State Denny Hoskins rejected the petition on August 4, 2026, and the state conducted its August primary with the new map. Absentee voting is already underway in Missouri using districts adopted in 2022.

What they agree on

The legal dispute over Missouri's congressional redistricting map has returned to the US Supreme Court for a third time.
Challengers to the new map asked the Supreme Court to block a federal appeals court decision that ordered the use of the 2025 map for the November elections.
The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that using the 2025 map is constitutional and that switching to the 2022 map would violate the Constitution.
The new 2025 map, backed by President Donald Trump, is designed to give Republicans an advantage, potentially securing seven of the state's eight House seats.
Justice Brett Kavanaugh has directed responses from the state and map supporters by Wednesday afternoon.

Where they split

SCOTUSblog and ABC News provide a detailed timeline of the legal proceedings, including previous Supreme Court interventions and the Missouri Supreme Court's ruling.
The Daily Wire and The Federalist emphasize the political implications, framing the 8th Circuit's ruling as a "chance" for Republicans to use the "GOP-friendly" map.
Democracy Docket focuses on the arguments made by the map's challengers, including the claim that the 8th Circuit's order is a "gerrymander" and that switching maps is "practically impossible" for election workers.
Jurist provides a more in-depth legal analysis of the 8th Circuit's opinion, citing specific constitutional articles and previous Supreme Court cases like *United States v. Classic* and *Wesberry v. Sanders*.