Missouri officials appeal to U.S. Supreme Court over blocked redistricting map

The Missouri Supreme Court has blocked a Republican-backed congressional redistricting map, prompting an emergency appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. The state's high court ruled that under Article III, Section 49 of the state constitution, any act of the general assembly is subject to a referendum, and no exceptions apply to the new district lines.

Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway, filing on behalf of Secretary of State Denny Hoskins, is seeking to reinstate the 2025 map for the November general election. The state argues that because more than 1.2 million voters used the 2025 districts during the August primary, reverting to the 2022 map would cause significant disruption.

The legal dispute follows a referendum petition containing over 300,000 signatures aimed at challenging the new districts. While the Secretary of State previously certified the petition as insufficient, the Missouri Supreme Court's decision has reversed that stance. Justice Brett Kavanaugh is overseeing the emergency application, with a response from the opposing party due by September 7.