Story perspectives

Missouri Supreme Court reinstates 2022 congressional map after ruling

9/6/2026

Summary

Missouri Court Restores

Missouri Supreme Court ruled the 2025 congressional map “is not the law” and reinstated the 2022 map.
Attorney General Catherine Hanaway filed an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court on Sept. 4.
Solicitor General Louis Capozzi said Justice Brett Kavanaugh ordered a faster response to the appeal.
State law sets a Sept. 8 deadline to finalize ballots and a Sept. 19 deadline for absentee ballots.

Summary

Missouri Court Allows

Missouri Supreme Court unanimously reversed the lower court, allowing a referendum on the new congressional map.
More than 300,000 Missourians signed a petition to place the map on a November referendum.
The contested map would shift Rep. Emanuel Cleaver’s Kansas City district eastward, creating a projected 7-1 Republican advantage.
Governor Mike Kehoe signed the new districts into law in September.

History

Historical Context

In 1962, the U.S. Supreme Court decided Baker v. Carr, mandating judicial review of legislative districts and establishing the 'one-person, one-vote' principle. Chief Justice Earl Warren authored the majority opinion, and the 6-2 ruling compelled states such as Missouri to redraw districts based on population equality. Today, Missouri’s Supreme Court reinstated the 2022 congressional map after a 2025 challenge, echoing Baker’s precedent that courts can overturn partisan gerrymanders. The ruling signals renewed judicial scrutiny of district lines, urging legislators to prioritize demographic fairness over partisan advantage in upcoming elections.

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Missouri Court Restores

Missouri Supreme Court ruled the 2025 congressional map “is not the law” and reinstated the 2022 map.
Attorney General Catherine Hanaway filed an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court on Sept. 4.
Solicitor General Louis Capozzi said Justice Brett Kavanaugh ordered a faster response to the appeal.
State law sets a Sept. 8 deadline to finalize ballots and a Sept. 19 deadline for absentee ballots.

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