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Missouri Supreme Court blocks new GOP-friendly House map after primary for midterms

September 4, 2026 | | Print Article

The Missouri Supreme Court dealt a blow to Republican hopes of retaining control over the House of Representatives by disallowing a new map for the upcoming midterm elections.

In a Thursday ruling, the court blocked the newly redrawn House map which favored the GOP, ordering a statewide vote that will give Missourians the say on whether the new districts are adopted.

The redistricted lines “did not go into effect and will not go into effect unless and until approved by the voters,” the court said. “The congressional redistricting the General Assembly established in 2022 remains in full force and effect for the November 2026 general election.”

If it stands, the return to the old maps will likely cost Republicans a House seat for an election in which they are already facing stiff headwinds due to voter dismay over affordability and other issues.

Missouri Democrats cheered the court’s decision as a “VICTORY TO THE PEOPLE!”

“The Missouri Supreme Court just unanimously ruled to reverse the gerrymandered, anti-democracy maps until THE PEOPLE have a chance to vote,” the party said in a post to X. “This is only possible because of the work done by our neighbors to gather signatures and fight back!”

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Missouri’s Republican Attorney General Catherine Hanaway vowed to quickly appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, in a post to X quoting Founding Father Benjamin Franklin: “A republic, if you can keep it.”

“Never before in American history has a court overturned a congressional map after a primary and before a general election. This unprecedented decision clearly violates federal law and has thrust our state into a full‑fledged constitutional crisis,” she wrote.

“Our office will move immediately to seek relief from SCOTUS. We are confident that the federal courts will not allow every Missouri voter to be disenfranchised—which is what today’s decision does,” Hanaway said.

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A disappointed President Donald J. Trump, who pushed for the new maps, reacted in a post to Truth Social.

“The Missouri Supreme Court just ridiculously ruled in favor of changing the maps back to what they were a long time ago. It’s called, Ancient History! The problem is, according to Legal Scholars, that not only was the ruling horrible, ridiculous, and unConstitutional, but there won’t be enough time to change the map back with the Election coming up in a very short period of time,” the post read.

“The Election Process, as usual, is being disturbed in America! Missouri must be able to use the map that was in effect just a couple of months ago, in the Primary. This is a Dark Day for ‘Justice’ in Missouri!” Trump said.

It was a rare loss for the GOP in the redistricting wars, but the nation’s highest court could yet save the day.

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Chris Donaldson
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