The Missouri Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision Thursday preventing newly drawn congressional districts from being used in the November general election, instead ordering voters to decide whether to accept or reject the Republican-led Legislature’s redistricting plan. The court ruled that a referendum petition submitted by opponents with over 300,000 signatures was legally valid and timely, effectively placing the new map on hold. The decision requires the state to use congressional boundaries from the 2020 census for the upcoming general election unless voters approve the new districts through a ballot measure.
Republican state officials challenged the ruling, with Attorney General Catherine Hanaway announcing an immediate appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court and characterizing the decision as creating a constitutional crisis. Hanaway argued the ruling violates federal law and represents an unprecedented court action to overturn a congressional map between primary and general elections. Republican Governor Mike Kehoe, who had proposed the new map, echoed these objections. Secretary of State Denny Hoskins had rejected the referendum petition in August, asserting the referendum process cannot be applied to congressional redistricting, but the state Supreme Court overturned that determination.
President Trump commented on the decision through social media, stating the justices had made a “ridiculous” ruling and characterizing the situation as a disturbance of the election process. The new districts had been created following Trump’s call for Republican-led states to pursue mid-decade redistricting before the midterm elections. The revised 5th Congressional District specifically reconfigured the seat held by Democrat Emanuel Cleaver, incorporating significantly more rural Republican areas.
Democrats and redistricting reform advocates hailed the decision. Richard von Glahn, executive director of People Not Politicians Missouri, which sponsored the petition, framed the outcome as democracy functioning properly. Democrat Emanuel Cleaver stated the ruling represented a victory for voters resisting what he called a “cynical and deeply shameful attempt” to silence constituents. Republican primary winner Rick Brattin contended the ruling disenfranchises primary voters and advantageous Democrats’ efforts to retake the House. The Missouri case represents one of few national redistricting battles to go against Republican plans.
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