Missouri Top Court Blocks Trump-Backed Congressional Map, Orders Referendum

In a unanimous decision on Thursday, the Missouri Supreme Court blocked the use of newly drawn congressional districts—championed by former President Donald Trump—for the November general election. The court has instead ordered a statewide referendum, allowing voters to decide whether the map, passed by the Republican-led legislature, should stand.

The ruling is a significant setback for Republicans who had hoped the redrawn boundaries would secure an additional House seat. The new map was already used in the August primaries, but the court determined it cannot be used again unless approved by the people. The decision stems from a petition drive that gathered over 300,000 signatures in December, seeking to halt the map. Republican Secretary of State Denny Hoskins had rejected the petition in August, arguing that congressional redistricting was not subject to a referendum. The Supreme Court overturned that decision, stating the petition was legal and timely.

Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway, who represented Hoskins, called the ruling a "full-fledged constitutional crisis" and announced an immediate appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. Governor Mike Kehoe also criticized the decision. Trump took to Truth Social, decrying the ruling as an unnecessary disruption of the election process.

Conversely, supporters of the referendum celebrated the outcome. Richard von Glahn of People Not Politicians Missouri called it a victory for direct democracy. The court also ruled that Hoskins wrongly rejected another ballot proposal aimed at making it harder for politicians to alter citizen-initiated laws, ordering that measure onto the November ballot as well.

The legal battle began when Governor Kehoe called a special session to redraw the 5th Congressional District, currently held by Democrat Emanuel Cleaver. The new map stretched the Kansas City-based district into rural, Republican-leaning areas, prompting a primary challenge from state Senator Rick Brattin. Cleaver, who won his primary unopposed, had held off campaigning in the new areas pending the court's decision. He praised the ruling as a victory against a "cynical" attempt to silence voters. Brattin, however, argued the decision disenfranchises primary voters who will now be placed in different districts.

Missouri currently holds a 6-2 Republican majority in its U.S. House delegation. The court's decision is among the few nationally to rule against GOP redistricting efforts, which have spread to over a dozen states.