Missouri Redistricting Battle Reaches Supreme Court for Third Time Amid Election Chaos

Key points

• The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on September 21 that Missouri must use the 2025 congressional map for the November general election, reversing prior Supreme Court decisions.
• The U.S. Supreme Court has received a third emergency appeal from the case, with a response deadline set for midday on September 23, 2026.
• The 2025 map, drawn by the Republican-dominated state assembly, splits the Kansas City-based 5th District, potentially eliminating a Democratic-leaning seat held by Rep. Emanuel Cleaver.
• Missouri’s Supreme Court previously ruled that the 2025 map could not take effect without a statewide referendum, a decision upheld by Justice Brett Kavanaugh earlier in the week.
• Over one million voters face potential district changes, with absentee voting already underway using the 2022 map, creating logistical and legal confusion for election officials.

Background

This dispute stems from a mid-decade redistricting effort spurred by President Trump, urging Republican-led states to redraw districts for the 2026 midterms. Missouri’s battle has been the most complex among roughly a dozen states. The Missouri Supreme Court ruled in September 2026 that the 2025 map required a voter referendum, blocking its use. The U.S. Supreme Court had previously blocked the map twice, most recently on September 10, 2026, leaving the 2022 map in effect. The 2022 map features six Republican-held and two Democratic-held seats, while the 2025 map aims to give Republicans seven of eight seats.

How outlets are covering it

Fox News emphasizes the Eighth Circuit’s ruling as a constitutional mandate, quoting Judge Stephen R. Clark’s statement that only the 2025 map complies with federal law, and highlighting President Trump’s criticism of the Missouri Supreme Court’s earlier decision as a 'dark day.' CBS News and KCTV focus on the logistical chaos, noting that absentee ballots are already being sent using the 2022 map and that county clerks lack time to reprint ballots. Opponents, including People Not Politicians, argue that switching maps between the August primary and November general election disenfranchises voters, while Republicans contend that using the 2022 map would move hundreds of thousands of voters into different districts than those in which they voted in the primary. The Missouri Association of County Clerks has announced it will not use the 2025 map, citing insufficient time.

Why it matters

The outcome will determine whether Missouri uses a map that could shift control of one House seat to Republicans, impacting the balance of power in Congress. The case highlights the growing national trend of mid-decade redistricting and the legal challenges it poses, with over one million voters affected and election officials facing impossible deadlines. The Supreme Court’s decision will set a precedent for how courts handle conflicting rulings in redistricting disputes during election cycles.

What to watch

The U.S. Supreme Court must decide whether to hear the third emergency appeal by midday on September 23, 2026. If the Court intervenes, it may uphold the Missouri Supreme Court’s ruling to use the 2022 map or the Eighth Circuit’s order to use the 2025 map. Election officials in Missouri are preparing for potential last-minute changes, with county clerks already printing ballots for the 2022 map. The November 2026 midterm elections will determine control of Congress, with Missouri’s eight House seats at stake.