Supreme Court blocks Missouri’s 2025 map for third time, citing electoral chaos
The U.S. Supreme Court has blocked Missouri from using a new congressional map for the third time in less than a month, ruling that the 2022 map must be used for the 2026 elections. The Court’s latest order, issued on September 25, paused a lower court ruling that had attempted to reinstate the 2025 map, which was designed to benefit Republicans. This decision follows a rapid series of legal battles where lower federal courts initially tried to enforce the new map, only to be repeatedly overruled by the Supreme Court. The Court emphasized that changing the map this close to the election would cause 'electoral chaos,' particularly because ballots have already been sent to military and overseas voters. The dispute stems from a Missouri Supreme Court ruling in September 2025 that invalidated the 2025 map due to a successful referendum petition, a decision that federal judges initially tried to override but the Supreme Court has now firmly upheld.
