Supreme Court blocks Missouri Republican redistricting map in midterm elections

The Supreme Court on Friday shut down efforts by Missouri Republicans to use a new congressional map in the midterm elections. The court blocked an appeals court ruling that sought to revive the 2025 map, ending a legal battle that began after a referendum push and a lawsuit filed on Sept. 4. No dissents were filed in the decision.

The ruling granted an emergency application filed by People Not Politicians, the group challenging the new map, and confirmed that the state will proceed with the 2022 map, which includes six Republican and two Democratic seats. The state has already begun sending ballots to military and overseas voters, and absentee voting started Tuesday. The court cited that Missouri has already begun its voting processes, noting that “lower federal courts should not alter the election rules of a state on the eve of an election.”

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver welcomed the decision, saying the issue is settled for November, and that the map will now be used in the general election. The Supreme Court’s decision follows a Monday ruling by the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that the Republican‑drawn map could be used, but it never went into effect. The litigation began after opponents of the new map gathered signatures for a referendum, and a lawsuit by Republican nominee Rick Brattin and others moved the fight into federal court, leading to the Supreme Court intervention.

Read the full story at NBC News.