Missouri Supreme Court Blocks 2025 Congressional Map for 2026 Election

Missouri election officials warned a federal appeals court that it is practically impossible to switch congressional maps for the November elections because ballots are already in production across most local jurisdictions, according to a court filing.

A legal brief was submitted to the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals by the Missouri Association of County Clerks and Election Authorities. The organization represents all 116 local election jurisdictions across the state. According to the court filing, most jurisdictions’ ballots are already in production, either by in-house ballot printers or vendors.

Switching back to the HB 1 map now would require an extensive amount of time and cost to reprint and distribute new ballots within statutory timelines, the filing states. Local election authorities argue that any further change would inflict additional vertigo on local election authorities and the millions of Missourians who rely on them following what was ostensibly-final resolution consistent with Missouri law.

Legal Battle Over Missouri Congressional Districts

The unfolding legal dispute centers on whether Missouri can utilize its redrawn 2025 congressional map or must revert to the 2022 map for the upcoming November election. The Missouri Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the state’s redrawn 2025 congressional map cannot be used for the November 2026 election, setting off a scramble in federal courts.

A week of legal back-and-forth at the state and federal level culminated when the U.S. Supreme Court granted an emergency request to block a federal judge’s order. That initial federal judge’s ruling would have resulted in Missouri using the 2025 map. The underlying federal lawsuit was originally filed by Congressman Bob Onder, State Sen. Rick Brattin, and two voters from the state.

Appeals and Upcoming Court Arguments

An appeal of the mandate compelling Missouri to employ its 2025 map has been brought forward by Richard von Glahn and People Not Politicians. In a separate legal action, Onder and Brattin contested the district judge’s decision to dismiss one of their legal claims through their own distinct appeal.

The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals is scheduled to hear oral arguments from both sides of the dispute. Local election authorities are asking the federal appeals court to reverse a September 8 district court order that granted a temporary restraining order, which had enjoined the Missouri Secretary of State from implementing and using the pre-HB 1 map.