Missouri Supreme Court Blocks Trump-Backed Congressional Map, Orders Referendum Vote

Missouri's Supreme Court ruled unanimously Thursday, September 3, 2026, that the Republican-drawn congressional map signed into law in September 2025 — designed to help the GOP flip an additional US House seat by splitting up Rep. Emanuel Cleaver's Kansas City-based 5th District — may not be used in the November 2026 midterms. The court found Secretary of State Denny Hoskins wrongly rejected a referendum petition backed by more than 300,000 signatures, ruling it was 'legal, sufficient, and timely,' and ordered the map be placed on the November ballot for voters to approve or reject; the map adopted after the 2020 census remains in force for this cycle in the meantime. Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway said she would seek an emergency appeal to the US Supreme Court.