Supreme Court blocks Missouri from using new GOP map for November midterms

Key points

The Supreme Court issued an unsigned decision on Friday, blocking the use of a 2025 congressional map in Missouri for the November 2026 general election.

The court cited the 'Purcell principle,' stating that changing voting rules at the last minute would create chaos, especially since absentee and military voting have already started.

Missouri will use the 2022 map, which results in six Republican-held and two Democratic-held House seats, including the seat of Rep. Emanuel Cleaver.

The 2025 map, pushed by President Trump and Missouri Republicans, would have created seven Republican-leaning and one Democratic-leaning district, eliminating Cleaver's seat.

This is the third time the Supreme Court has blocked the new map in as many weeks, following previous emergency orders and a Missouri Supreme Court ruling.

Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe expressed disappointment but stated the state would comply with the court's order, noting the inconsistency between the primary and general election maps.

Background

This dispute is part of a broader mid-decade redistricting effort by Republicans, urged by President Trump, to gain House seats. Missouri's 2025 map was challenged by the group People Not Politicians, who argued it was drawn outside the constitutional process. The case has bounced between state and federal courts since September, with the Supreme Court intervening twice before this final decision. The 2022 map, which will be used, was the result of a previous redistricting cycle and includes a referendum for voters to decide on the new map in the future.

How outlets are covering it

CNN and NBC News both report that the Supreme Court's decision is final and will prevent 'electoral chaos.' CNN emphasizes the 'Purcell principle' and the court's reasoning, while NBC News highlights the reactions from both sides, including Rep. Cleaver's relief and Gov. Kehoe's disappointment. SCOTUSblog provides a detailed account of the legal arguments, noting that Missouri and Republican plaintiffs argued that the challengers lacked standing and that the 8th Circuit's decision was 'narrow and unremarkable.' All sources agree that the 2022 map will be used for the November election, but they differ in their emphasis on the legal and political implications of the decision.

Why it matters

The decision ensures that Missouri's 2022 congressional map will be used for the November 2026 midterms, preserving a 6-2 Republican-Democratic split in the House. This outcome is significant for the balance of power in Congress and reflects the ongoing tensions between state and federal courts over redistricting. The case also highlights the challenges of changing election rules at the last minute and the potential for 'electoral chaos' as noted by the Supreme Court.

What to watch

Missouri will proceed with the November 2026 general election using the 2022 congressional map. The state will also hold a referendum on the 2025 map, as ordered by the Missouri Supreme Court. The legal battle over the map is expected to be over for this election cycle, but the referendum will determine the map for future elections. The decision may also have implications for other redistricting disputes in different states.