Catherine Hanaway

The Missouri Supreme Court unanimously blocked new Republican-drawn congressional districts, backed by Donald Trump, from taking effect in the November election and ordered a statewide referendum on whether to uphold or reject the map. Though used in the August primary, the map cannot be used again unless voters approve it; the 2022 map remains in effect for the midterms otherwise. The court ruled that a constitutional provision allowing referendums on "any act" of the Legislature applies to congressional redistricting, overturning Secretary of State Denny Hoskins' rejection of a petition backed by over 300,000 signatures.

The map had targeted the 5th Congressional District held by Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, stretching it into rural Republican territory. Attorney General Catherine Hanaway and Gov. Mike Kehoe called the ruling an unprecedented constitutional crisis and vowed an immediate appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court; Trump called it a "Dark Day" for Missouri. Hoskins vowed to keep fighting, while Democrats and redistricting advocates celebrated the decision as a rare setback in Trump's nationwide mid-decade redistricting push spanning more than a dozen states ahead of the midterms.

The Missouri Supreme Court has unanimously blocked new Trump-backed congressional districts from being used in the November election, ruling that a referendum petition against the map was valid and must go before voters. The decision means the state's 2020 census-based map stays in effect for 2026, dealing a rare setback to Republicans' national mid-decade redistricting push aimed at flipping an additional U.S. House seat. Attorney General Catherine Hanaway said she would immediately appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, calling the ruling a "constitutional crisis," while Gov. Mike Kehoe and Secretary of State Denny Hoskins also condemned the decision.

The new map, drawn after Trump urged Republicans to redraw districts nationwide, had targeted Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver's Kansas City-based seat. Opponents had gathered over 300,000 signatures for a referendum, which Hoskins rejected—a decision the court overturned. The ruling was one of only a handful nationally to go against Republican redistricting efforts amid a fight that has spread to more than a dozen states.