Home · Politics · Sep 21 archive
Federal Appeals Court Revives GOP-Friendly Missouri Redistricting Map
Confirmed
In Short: A federal appeals court on Monday ruled that Missouri must use its Republican-favored 2025 redistricting map in November, despite the Supreme Court declining twice this month to intervene in the dispute.
The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals ordered the state to use the new map, which would favor Republicans for seven of the state’s eight U.S. House seats, notwithstanding the Missouri Supreme Court’s previous ruling that favored the 2022 map.
The appeals court issued a weeklong stay for appellate review, allowing redistricting opponents one week to seek further relief from the Supreme Court.
The decision came after a series of legal battles, including a Missouri Supreme Court ruling that ordered Secretary of State Denny Hoskins to use the 2022 map, which favored Republicans in a 6-2 split.
Hoskins had previously instructed local election authorities to use the Republican-backed map, drawing the ire of the Missouri Supreme Court, which issued a contempt order to Hoskins.
The appeals court determined that the lower court should stay its permanent injunction until September, citing the potential confusion for voters who have already used the map in the primary election.
Opponents of the new redistricting plan quickly filed a notice to appeal Clark's order to the 8th U.S. Circuit Court.
The Missouri Supreme Court signaled Tuesday that it was considering holding Secretary of State Denny Hoskins in contempt amid an escalating battle over proposed congressional maps.
Hoskins, a Republican, said Tuesday that he would keep using the congressional districts redrawn last year, despite a U.S. Supreme Court decision that left standing a state Supreme Court order requiring Missouri to use its old districts instead.
The ruling has no immediate effect and faces long odds to be implemented ahead of the election based on the Supreme Court’s previous action.
The appeals court’s decision stated, “Though uncommon, this situation is not unprecedented.”
Background
Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway is appealing to the US Supreme Court to reverse a state court decision that blocked the use of a new congressional map.
What's confirmed
- The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals ordered the state to use the new map, which would favor Republicans for seven of the state’s eight U.S. House seats, notwithstanding the Missouri Supreme Court’s previous ruling that favored the 2022 map.
- The appeals court issued a weeklong stay for appellate review, allowing redistricting opponents one week to seek further relief from the Supreme Court.
- The decision came after a series of legal battles, including a Missouri Supreme Court ruling that ordered Secretary of State Denny Hoskins to use the 2022 map, which favored Republicans in a 6-2 split.
- Hoskins had previously instructed local election authorities to use the Republican-backed map, drawing the ire of the Missouri Supreme Court, which issued a contempt order to Hoskins.
- The appeals court determined that the lower court should stay its permanent injunction until September, citing the potential confusion for voters who have already used the map in the primary election.
- Opponents of the new redistricting plan quickly filed a notice to appeal Clark's order to the 8th U.S. Circuit Court.
- The Missouri Supreme Court signaled Tuesday that it was considering holding Secretary of State Denny Hoskins in contempt amid an escalating battle over proposed congressional maps.
- Hoskins, a Republican, said Tuesday that he would keep using the congressional districts redrawn last year, despite a U.S. Supreme Court decision that left standing a state Supreme Court order requiring Missouri to use its old districts instead.
- The ruling has no immediate effect and faces long odds to be implemented ahead of the election based on the Supreme Court’s previous action.
What's still developing
- “Courts around the country have ordered ballot changes after absentee ballots already have been distributed …" Responding to President Donald Trump’s call to redraw congressional districts outside the normal 10-year window, Missouri legislators passed a new map that would favor Republicans for seven of the state’s eight U.S. House seats.
- “The Supreme Court of the United States has already stayed a temporary restraining order and allowed the election to go forward,” Hatfield said in an email to Courthouse News.
- “Changing district lines between the primary and general election prevents an affected voter from participating in either district’s complete procedure of choice.” However, the appeals court determined the lower court should stay its permanent injunction until Sept.
- A federal appeals court ruled Monday that Missouri must use its Republican-favored 2025 redistricting map in November, despite the Supreme Court declining twice this month to intervene in the dispute.
- “This Court holds that Missouri’s current plan to use the 2022 map in the November 2026 general election violates the Constitution. Only use of the 2025 map complies with the Constitution and federal law,” the appeals court said in an unsigned ruling.
- Monday’s decision upheld a decision by Missouri-based U.S. District Judge Stephen Clark, who had that the new map must be used, notwithstanding the Missouri Supreme Court having previously reached the opposite conclusion.
- That followed an unusual proceeding in which the Missouri Supreme Court held him in contempt for failing to comply with its ruling that said the 2025 map had to be put on hold under state law while a voter referendum takes place.
- A federal appeals court on Monday introduced a new wrinkle into the convoluted fight over whether Republicans can use a new congressional map in November’s election, as the GOP tries to eliminate one of the state’s two Democratic House districts.
- The three-judge appeals court panel was comprised of Republican-appointed judges, including two picked by President Donald Trump.
- Justice Brett Kavanaugh turned down a Republican-backed emergency appeal that sought to block a Missouri Supreme Court ruling last week restoring earlier district lines and ordering that voters to weigh in on the redistricting plan in November for use in future elections.
- However, Chief U.S. District Court Judge Stephen Clark, in a decision made public within minutes of Kavanaugh ’s ruling, issued a temporary restraining order that effectively set aside the state Supreme Court’s decision and granted Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins’ request to move forward with the plan likely to elect a Republican in one of the state’s two districts currently held by Democrats.
- The Democratic group leading the push to block Republicans’ redistricting efforts swiftly appealed Clark’s decision to the 8th Circuit Court and asked the court for an emergency temporary stay while it considers the appeal.