SCOTUSblog

Missouri's congressional redistricting fight has returned to the U.S. Supreme Court for a third time after the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the state must use its 2025 Republican-drawn map in November, reversing the Missouri Supreme Court decision that had reinstated the 2022 districts pending a voter referendum. The appeals court paused its own order to give the justices a narrow window to intervene again after twice previously blocking use of the new map, with a ruling expected soon.

The 2025 map, backed by President Trump, reshapes Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver's Kansas City-based district and could give Republicans seven of Missouri's eight House seats. With absentee voting underway, county election officials say they are following the most recent court order and currently using the 2022 map, but face confusion over what happens to ballots already cast if the Supreme Court later orders a switch. Election clerks note a voter's ballot could still count even if their U.S. House selection is voided. Regardless of the outcome, a referendum on the new districts will still appear on the ballot for future elections.