Missouri’s Republican-backed congressional map suffered a significant setback Thursday, as the state Supreme Court ruled that the newly drawn, GOP-favored districts cannot be used in the upcoming midterm elections.
In a unanimous ruling, the justices said Missouri voters must have the final say, ordering a statewide referendum in November to decide whether the new congressional map should take effect.
President Trump reacted angrily to the decision, calling it a “Dark Day for ‘Justice’ in Missouri!”
Posting on Truth Social, Trump blasted the Missouri Supreme Court for what he described as an absurd move to restore older district lines. “The Missouri Supreme Court just ridiculously ruled in favor of changing the maps back to what they were a long time ago. It’s called, Ancient History!” he wrote, claiming that legal experts viewed the decision as “horrible, ridiculous, and unConstitutional.” He also argued that, with the election approaching quickly, there would not be enough time to revert to the prior map.
“The Election Process, as usual, is being disturbed in America!” Trump added.
The court’s decision came after Missouri residents submitted petition signatures demanding a statewide vote on the redistricting plan. The new districts, which had already been used in the state’s August primaries, were designed in a way that would have improved Republican chances in one U.S. House seat currently held by a Democrat.
In its opinion, the court said the petition effort met the necessary legal standards. “The referendum petition was legal, sufficient, and timely, and the secretary incorrectly concluded otherwise,” the justices wrote.
The redistricting measure had been passed by Missouri’s GOP-controlled legislature and signed in September by Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe. But the court ruled that the map “did not go into effect and will not go into effect unless and until approved by the voters.” Until then, the previous congressional map “remains in full force and effect for the November 2026 general election,” the ruling said.
Five of the seven judges on the state Supreme Court were appointed by GOP governors.
Attorneys representing Republican Secretary of State Denny Hoskins and GOP committees had argued it was too close to the midterms to go back to using the old district boundaries warning it would cause confusion and chaos.
“Never before in American history has a court overturned a congressional map after a primary and before a general election,” Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway fumed on X. “This unprecedented decision clearly violates federal law and has thrust our state into a full‑fledged constitutional crisis.”
Hanaway vowed to “immediately” seek relief from the US Supreme Court.
“We are confident that the federal courts will not allow every Missouri voter to be disenfranchised — which is what today’s decision does,” she added.
Last month, a lower court judge rejected the Democrat-backed bid to put the new House districts up for a statewide vote, ruling that under the Missouri Constitution, a referendum on “congressional redistricting enacted by the General Assembly” is not allowed.
Hoskins similarly asserted that the referendum process cannot be used for congressional redistricting when he rejected the petition signed by 300,000 Missourians on primary election day in August.
Missouri currently has six Republicans and two Democrats in its House delegation. Under the new map, that balance would’ve likely shifted to seven Republicans and one Democrat, St. Louis-based Rep. Wesley Bell (D-Mo.).
With Post wires
