Missouri asks US Supreme Court to allow use of new Trump-backed congressional districts in midterms

On September 3, 2026, the Missouri Supreme Court unanimously blocked new congressional districts backed by President Donald Trump from being used in the November election and ordered a statewide vote on whether to uphold or reject them. This decision came after opponents submitted over 300,000 petition signatures seeking a referendum against the map. Republican Secretary of State Denny Hoskins rejected this petition but lost his appeal at the state’s highest court. Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway immediately appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing that the decision has put the state into a constitutional crisis.

Republicans had hoped these new boundaries would help them win an additional seat and maintain their slim majority in the House during the midterms. However, with less than two months before the November elections, this ruling plunges Missouri’s congressional map into uncertainty. Democrats argue that democracy prevails as more than 305,000 Missourians demanded a say on who represents them in Congress.

The conflicting rulings from different courts mean candidates who won primaries under the new map will now face the general election using the old district lines unless voters approve the new districts during November’s referendum. This decision could have significant implications for control of the closely divided U.S. House of Representatives, with legal experts and prediction markets suggesting it is more likely than not that this ruling will be upheld by the Supreme Court.