Full Breakdown
Court Rulings on Mid-Decade Redistricting in Missouri and Maryland
9/4/2026, 8:15:26 PM
Core Event
The Missouri Supreme Court issued a unanimous opinion blocking the congressional map approved by the Republican-controlled General Assembly in 2025. The court ordered that the 2022 district plan remain in effect for the upcoming general election and directed Secretary of State Denny Hoskins to place a referendum on the ballot asking voters whether the 2025 map should be adopted.
The same day the Maryland Supreme Court reversed two lower-court rulings and allowed the constitutional amendment known as Question 3 to appear on the ballot, directing the State Board of Elections to rewrite the ballot summary for clarity. The amendment would limit compactness and natural-boundary standards to state legislative districts, not congressional districts.
Both decisions occur amid a nationwide push by Republican-led states to redraw congressional lines between censuses, a strategy first urged by President Donald Trump in 2025.
Background & Context
Mid-decade redistricting began after President Trump urged GOP legislatures to redraw maps to protect a slim House majority. Missouri’s special session in 2025 produced a map that would have shifted Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II’s 5th District eastward, creating a projected 7-1 Republican advantage in the state’s eight House seats. Maryland Democrats, who already hold seven of the state’s eight U.S. House seats, drafted Question 3 to free future congressional maps from the compact-district requirement that had produced an 8-0 Democratic map in 2022.
Legal challenges in both states hinged on whether state constitutions permit referendums on congressional redistricting. Maryland’s dispute centered on alleged misleading ballot language and missed statutory deadlines (the law sets a July 1 deadline for certification).
Official Statements & Responses
- Catherine Hanaway, Missouri Attorney General, called the court’s order a “full-fledged constitutional crisis” and announced an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
- Zach Bannon, NRCC spokesman, said “Missouri Republicans followed the law” and that the party will evaluate options.
- Denny Hoskins said he will follow the court’s directive and continue using the “Missouri First” map.
- Emanuel Cleaver II praised the decision as a win for democracy.
Criticism & Opposition
- Rick Brattin, Republican state senator, labeled the ruling “blatantly unconstitutional” and vowed to seek federal relief.
- Donald Trump posted that the decision was “ridiculous” and “unconstitutional,” arguing the state would lack time to implement the map.
- Lou Capozzi, Missouri Solicitor General, argued that Article Three, Section 7H of the state constitution excludes congressional redistricting from referendum review.
- Jeffrey Clark, attorney for Maryland Republican plaintiffs, contended the legislature missed the July 1 certification deadline and that the ballot language is “intentionally misleading.”
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Signature totals for the Missouri referendum vary across sources, leaving the exact level of voter support unclear.
- Analysts disagree on whether the 2022 map can be used for the general election after being superseded by the 2025 map in the August primary; the courts have not detailed an implementation plan for the mismatch.
- Maryland’s procedural timeline remains contested: plaintiffs argue the legislature violated the July 1 deadline, while the court held that the deadline does not apply to constitutional amendments.
What’s Next
- Missouri voters will decide the referendum on the 2025 congressional map on election day; the state must certify the ballot by September 8.
- Maryland voters will decide Question 3 on the same day; the State Board of Elections is preparing ballots after the court-ordered language revision.
- Both states face potential appeals to the U.S. Supreme Court, which could shape the legal landscape for mid-decade redistricting ahead of the 2028 congressional elections.
