Supreme Court faces third emergency appeal over Missouri's chaotic congressional map

Key points

• The Supreme Court is reviewing a third emergency appeal regarding Missouri's congressional map after the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals ordered the state to use a Republican-drawn 2025 map for November elections.
• This ruling reverses previous Supreme Court blocks and the Missouri Supreme Court's decision to keep the 2022 map, creating conflicting judicial commands for state officials.
• The dispute threatens to shuffle over one million voters, with absentee ballots already sent using the older map, and the Missouri Association of County Clerks and Election Authorities stating it will not use the 2025 map due to logistical constraints.
• Republicans aim to win seven of eight House seats using the 2025 map, while opponents argue the switch is logistically impossible and disenfranchises voters who already voted in primaries under the new map.
• Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who handles emergency requests for Missouri, directed supporters of the new map to respond to the appeal by Wednesday at 2 p.m. ET.

Background

The dispute began last year when Missouri adopted a new congressional map with President Trump's encouragement. In December, opponents submitted over 300,000 signatures to put the new map up for a vote in November 2026. Missouri's top election official, Secretary of State Denny Hoskins, rejected the petition on Aug. 4, 2026, and Missouri conducted its August primary with the new map. The Missouri Supreme Court ruled on Sept. 3 that the new map could not take effect unless voters approved it in a statewide referendum. The U.S. Supreme Court has twice blocked efforts to use the new map in November, most recently on Sept. 10.

How outlets are covering it

NBC News and Fox News report that the Supreme Court is reviewing a third emergency appeal regarding Missouri's congressional map, with Fox News emphasizing the logistical impossibility of switching maps and the disenfranchisement of voters who already voted in primaries under the new map. SCOTUSblog provides a detailed timeline of the legal battle, highlighting the conflicting judicial commands and the arguments from both sides. All three sources agree that the dispute is causing significant confusion for voters and election officials, with SCOTUSblog noting that the 8th Circuit's ruling is 'doubly flawed' and that the Supreme Court's Sept. 10 order is still in effect.

Why it matters

The outcome of this dispute will determine which congressional map Missouri uses for the November 2026 midterm elections, potentially affecting the balance of power in the U.S. House of Representatives. The case also highlights the complexities and challenges of mid-decade redistricting, with implications for future elections and the role of the Supreme Court in resolving electoral disputes.

What to watch

The Supreme Court will decide whether to uphold the Eighth Circuit's ruling or reinstate the 2022 map. The decision could come before the Sept. 28 deadline for the 8th Circuit's order to take effect, or it could be delayed until after the November elections. The outcome will have significant implications for the balance of power in the U.S. House of Representatives and the future of mid-decade redistricting.