In a major blow to President Trump and Republicans, the Missouri Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the Show-Me State’s new, more GOP-friendly congressional map cannot be used in the midterm elections.
In a unanimous decision, the court ordered that a statewide referendum be held in November to determine the ultimate fate of the new map.
Trump declared it “Dark Day for ‘Justice’ in Missouri!” in response to the ruling.
“The Missouri Supreme Court just ridiculously ruled in favor of changing the maps back to what they were a long time ago. It’s called, Ancient History!” Trump raged on Truth Social. “The problem is, according to Legal Scholars, that not only was the ruling horrible, ridiculous, and unConstitutional, but there won’t be enough time to change the map back with the Election coming up in a very short period of time.”
“The Election Process, as usual, is being disturbed in America!”
The court moved to block the new districts, which were used in the state’s August primaries, after citizens submitted petition signatures seeking a statewide vote on the new map, which would’ve given the GOP an advantage in one Democrat-held House seat.
“The referendum petition was legal, sufficient, and timely, and the secretary incorrectly concluded otherwise,” the court found.
The redistricting plan, approved by the GOP-led state legislature and signed into law by Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe in September, “did not go into effect and will not go into effect unless and until approved by the voters,” the ruling stated, adding that the previous congressional map “remains in full force and effect for the November 2026 general election.”
Five of the seven judges on the state Supreme Court were appointed by GOP governors.
Attorneys representing Republican Secretary of State Denny Hoskins and GOP committees had argued it was too close to the midterms to go back to using the old district boundaries warning it would cause confusion and chaos.
“Never before in American history has a court overturned a congressional map after a primary and before a general election,” Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway fumed on X. “This unprecedented decision clearly violates federal law and has thrust our state into a full‑fledged constitutional crisis.”
Hanaway vowed to “immediately” seek relief from the US Supreme Court.
“We are confident that the federal courts will not allow every Missouri voter to be disenfranchised — which is what today’s decision does,” she added.
Last month, a lower court judge rejected the Democrat-backed bid to put the new House districts up for a statewide vote, ruling that under the Missouri Constitution, a referendum on “congressional redistricting enacted by the General Assembly” is not allowed.
Hoskins similarly asserted that the referendum process cannot be used for congressional redistricting when he rejected the petition signed by 300,000 Missourians on primary election day in August.
Missouri currently has six Republicans and two Democrats in its House delegation. Under the new map, that balance would’ve likely shifted to seven Republicans and one Democrat, St. Louis-based Rep. Wesley Bell (D-Mo.).
With Post wires
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