The Supreme Court rejected Republicans’ latest try to revive a GOP-tilted map for November’s congressional elections, ruling for a third time that even though the state held primaries under the new map, the old one must be used.
In an unsigned order, the court said state law requires the old map’s use, and the fact that the election is so near also argues for using the old map, which was applied in 2022 and 2024.
“At this late date, ordering reversion to the 2025 map in the midst of an ongoing election would usher in electoral chaos,” the justices said.
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At stake is likely the outcome of one seat.
Under the old map, Democrats won two of the state’s eight seats in the U.S. House. Republicans hoped to reduce Democrats to just one seat with the new map, which eliminates the Kansas City-based district of Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II.
The Legislature approved the new map last year, but opponents demanded it be put to a referendum. Under Missouri rules, a measure facing a referendum can’t take effect yet.
Secretary of State Denny Hoskins, a Republican, argued that redistricting didn’t fall under the usual rules and so it wasn’t subject to a challenge by referendum.
The primaries were then held under the new map.
The state’s Supreme Court then ruled that redistricting was subject to the referendum process. It ordered the old map restored.
Lower federal courts ruled that since the primary had already taken place, the new map should still be used.
At issue was a Supreme Court principle that altering things too close to an election must be avoided.
A federal appeals court said that cut in favor of the new map.
Since the primaries were held under the new map, ditching it now would be altering the status quo, the lower court ruled.
But the justices said that got it wrong.
They said while federal judges shouldn’t intervene with big changes, states are free to do so — and so the state Supreme Court’s ruling must be respected.
The justices also said there’s no precedent that says once a primary has happened, districts can’t be changed.
Left-leaning voting rights advocates hailed the ruling.
“This case should never have reached the Supreme Court three times, but we’re glad that the final outcome of these cases is Missourians having the opportunity to vote under a lawful map this fall,” said Mark Gaber, senior director of redistricting at Campaign Legal Center.
The ruling is likely the last one in a year and a half of unprecedented redistricting fights.
Previously, the high court allowed new maps in Texas and California to be used in the election, rebuffing challengers from the left for Texas and from the right for California.
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