Missouri’s top election official held in contempt for defying court’s gerrymander order

Missouri’s Supreme Court held the state’s top election official in contempt Thursday for defying its order not to use a gerrymandered map for the upcoming midterm election.

The development was the latest embarrassment for Secretary of State Denny Hoskins (R), after being thwarted in his attempt to force the gerrymander on Missourians.

Hoskins entered the day defiant, but he quickly backed down after being grilled by the judges. Hoskins ultimately conceded and agreed that the state will use a 2022 district map for the upcoming election. 

But that was not enough to stop the judges from officially finding him in contempt.

The court didn’t say what, if any, penalty Hoskins faces following a brief second appearance Thursday afternoon. The judges did acknowledge that Hoskins ultimately backed down and pledged to abide by their decision. A written order detailing their decision will come later.

“The court finds that the Secretary has since corrected his contemptuous conduct by informing this court of his notifications to the local election authorities that the governing order in effect from this court and directing all local election authorities to use the 2022 congressional district map,” Chief Justice Brent Powell said.

Last week, the Missouri Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the state could not use a GOP gerrymander that eliminated a Democratic district in Kansas City for the upcoming election. However, Hoskins defied that order after a federal district court issued a conflicting ruling in a separate case brought by a Republican congressional candidate that barred the state from using any map other than the gerrymander for the election.

The district court decision came on the same day Missouri was required to finalize its ballots for the upcoming election. Hoskins seized on that decision and instructed local election officials to use the gerrymandered map for voting.

At an initial appearance before the state Supreme Court Thursday morning, Hoskins’ attorney had suggested that he might still defy the court order and implement the gerrymandered 2025 map, irritating the judges.

“It’s just English,” one judge fumed while explaining the court expected its orders to be followed.

The map debate was moot before Hoskins stepped into court Thursday morning because the U.S. Supreme Court stepped in to put a hold on the gerrymandered map, meaning the state will use its 2022 district map for the upcoming midterms. Justice Brett Kavanaugh paused the map until a federal appeals court can complete its review and the U.S. Supreme Court decides whether it will review the case, which would likely happen in October when the court reconvenes.

After being found in contempt, Hoskins asked voters to “please keep Missouri in your prayers.”