Supreme Court Rejects Missouri GOP’s Latest Redistricting Attempt

The high court’s unsigned ruling reinforces a September 3 decision by the Supreme Court of Missouri, which held that the 2025 map never legally took effect because it lacked the required voter approval via referendum. Despite Republican efforts to bypass this constitutional requirement, the justices directed lower courts to strictly enforce the use of the 2022 map, effectively resetting the state's electoral geography for November.

Governor Mike Kehoe, who signed the contested legislation into law, acknowledged the ruling as "disappointing" but stated that Missouri would comply with the judicial mandate. The decision marks a significant setback for the GOP, which aimed to secure a more favorable 6-1 seat split. Instead, the state will maintain a 5R-2D configuration, preserving the integrity of districts like the 5th, currently held by Democratic Representative Emanuel Cleaver.

Advocacy group People Not Politicians Missouri celebrated the outcome, framing it as a triumph over legislative overreach. Voters will now have the chance to finalize their opposition to the redistricting plan at the ballot box through Proposition A. Marina Jenkins of the National Redistricting Foundation described the ruling as the "final nail in the coffin" for the mid-decade gerrymander, ensuring that the previously established 2022 map guides the 2026 congressional contest.