Missouri Map Faces Conflicting Court Orders

Missouri's congressional map for the November general election remains in legal uncertainty after conflicting court rulings on Tuesday, September 8, 2026. The U.S. Supreme Court denied an emergency request from state officials to use a newly drawn, Republican-favored map, but a federal judge issued a temporary order requiring its use just minutes later. Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who handles emergency petitions from Missouri, denied the state's application without explanation. The decision left in place a Missouri Supreme Court ruling from September 3 that blocked the new map unless voters approve it in a November referendum. That state court had found a citizen-led referendum petition was legally sufficient and ordered Secretary of State Denny Hoskins to place it on the ballot. The situation changed almost immediately when Chief U.S. District Judge Stephen Clark issued a 14-day temporary restraining order. Clark's ruling requires Missouri to use the newer map for the November 3 election, arguing that switching maps after the August primary would cause significant disruption and potentially disenfranchise voters.