Missouri Republicans ask federal court to block future redistricting opposition

By Jen Rice

In this photo taken with a smartphone, people opposed to a congressional redistricting plan rally outside the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City, Mo., Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/David A. Lieb)

Missouri Republicans are once again asking a federal court to rule against their redistricting opponents — even after the GOP already struck out at the Missouri Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court, and even as local election officials prepare to send out ballots to voters later this week.

In a brief filed Tuesday, the state acknowledged that it is complying with orders forcing it to use its 2022 congressional map for the November election. However, it urged the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals to weigh in on related arguments.

The state of Missouri and the Missouri Secretary of State’s office argued in their brief that the court should rule that redistricting opponents cannot use a referendum vote to block a congressional map in the future, as well as find that a state cannot change its congressional map between a primary and general election. 

“The Court can and should hold that the origin of this drama — a referendum petition suspending a congressional map — is unconstitutional under the Elections Clause,” the state argued, adding that the court should also rule that changing a congressional map between a primary and general election violates the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution.

The outcome is unlikely to have an impact on the 2026 election. The Missouri Supreme Court already unanimously concluded earlier this month that the GOP’s newest congressional gerrymander never went into effect and will not go into effect unless it is approved by voters in a November referendum election. 

And while a federal district court granted Missouri Republicans a temporary restraining order blocking the use of any map except the new gerrymander, that win was short lived. The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday blocked* the temporary restraining order — and now, even Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins (R) has conceded that Missouri will use its 2022 map in this year’s upcoming midterm elections. 

The 8th Circuit will hold oral arguments in the case Thursday. 

*The Elias Law Group (ELG) represents pro-voting parties in this case. ELG Firm Chair Marc Elias is the founder of Democracy Docket.