Missouri Supreme Court says redrawn map must go on ballot

Key Points:

• The Missouri Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the referendum petition challenging the 2025 congressional map is valid and must be placed on the November 2026 ballot, blocking the map's implementation until voter approval.
• Secretary of State Denny Hoskins had previously declared the referendum insufficient, citing constitutional issues, but the court ordered him to certify the petition and prepare for the public vote by September 8.
• Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway plans to seek an emergency stay from the U.S. Supreme Court to allow the use of the new map in upcoming elections, warning of potential legal challenges from candidates affected by the ruling.
• The decision is seen as a victory by opponents of the map, including Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, who argued the ruling preserves voters' voices and prevents partisan gerrymandering, while Republican State Sen. Rick Brattin criticized the ruling and intends to pursue further legal action.
• The ruling maintains the current congressional map for the 2026 election, potentially impacting key races such as Cleaver's, whose district would have become more Republican under the 2025 map.