Politics

Missouri GOP Presses Federal Appeals Court on Redistricting Rules Despite Losing Map Fight

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Missouri GOP Presses Federal Appeals Court on Redistricting Rules Despite Losing Map Fight
Photo: In this photo taken with a smartphone, people opposed to a congressional redistricting plan rally outside the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City, Mo., Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/David A. Lieb)

Missouri Republicans are continuing to pursue a federal court ruling against their redistricting opponents, even after setbacks at both the Missouri Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court, and as local election officials prepare to mail ballots to voters later this week.

In a brief filed Tuesday, the state acknowledged it is complying with court orders requiring the use of its 2022 congressional map for the November election. However, it asked the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals to address related legal questions.

The state of Missouri and the Missouri Secretary of State's office argued that the court should rule that redistricting opponents cannot use a referendum vote to block a congressional map in the future. They also asked the court to find that a state cannot change its congressional map between a primary and general election.

"The Court can and should hold that the origin of this drama — a referendum petition suspending a congressional map — is unconstitutional under the Elections Clause," the state argued. It further contended that changing a congressional map between a primary and general election violates the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution.

The outcome of this appeal is unlikely to affect the 2026 election. Earlier this month, the Missouri Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the GOP's newest congressional gerrymander never took effect and will not take effect unless approved by voters in a November referendum.

Although a federal district court had granted Missouri Republicans a temporary restraining order blocking the use of any map other than the new gerrymander, that victory proved short-lived. The U.S. Supreme Court blocked the restraining order last Thursday, and Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins, a Republican, has since conceded that the state will use its 2022 map for this year's midterm elections.

The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals is scheduled to hold oral arguments in the case on Thursday.

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