Supreme Court Rejects Trump-Backed Missouri Congressional Map for Third Time
The Supreme Court ordered Missouri to use its 2022 congressional map for the 2026 midterm elections, blocking a Republican-friendly 2025 map for the third time. The unsigned order drew no noted dissents and leaves the older boundaries in place.
The Supreme Court on Friday ordered Missouri to use its 2022 congressional map for the 2026 midterm elections, rejecting for a third time a Trump-backed redistricting plan that Republicans had hoped would give them an additional GOP-leaning House seat. The unsigned order halted a federal appeals court ruling that would have revived the newer map, which could have shifted the balance of power in a state where six of eight congressional districts already favor Republicans.
The justices made clear that lower courts should neither prohibit the use of the 2022 map nor require the state to adopt the 2025 version. «The District Court and Court of Appeals should not enjoin or otherwise prohibit the use of the 2022 map in the 2026 congressional election in Missouri,» the order states. «And the District Court and Court of Appeals should not order or otherwise require Missouri to use the 2025 map in the 2026 congressional election in Missouri.» No dissents were noted, signaling a unified court on the immediate question of which boundaries will govern the upcoming election.
The decision effectively ends the legal wrangling over Missouri's congressional map for now, leaving the older boundaries in place for a midterm cycle that will determine control of Congress. The dispute centered on a Republican effort to redraw a Kansas City-area district that had elected a Black Democrat, a move that would have created an additional GOP-leaning seat. The 2025 map, championed by allies of former President Donald Trump, was seen as a way to strengthen Republican advantages in a state that has trended reliably red in recent elections.
The Supreme Court's action marks the third time the justices have rejected the Trump-backed map, underscoring the repeated legal setbacks for the redistricting push. Lower courts had previously blocked the 2025 map, prompting the appeals court ruling that the high court has now halted. The practical effect is that Missouri voters will cast ballots under the same district lines used in the 2022 elections, when Republicans won six of the state's eight congressional seats.
The order comes as states across the country finalize their congressional boundaries ahead of the 2026 midterms, with control of the House of Representatives at stake. Redistricting battles have intensified in several states, but Missouri's case stood out for its repeated trips to the nation's highest court. The justices' decision not to require the 2025 map removes uncertainty for election officials who are preparing for the November contests.
Legal experts noted that the unsigned order provides clear guidance to lower courts, preventing further delays or confusion. By instructing the District Court and Court of Appeals not to interfere with the 2022 map, the Supreme Court has effectively settled the immediate question of which boundaries will be used. The ruling does not address broader legal challenges to the 2025 map, but it ensures that the 2022 districts will remain in effect for the 2026 election.
Missouri's congressional delegation currently consists of six Republicans and two Democrats. The 2022 map preserved that split, while the proposed 2025 map could have made the Kansas City-area district more competitive or favorable to Republicans. The rejected plan had drawn criticism from voting rights groups, who argued that it diluted the voting power of minority communities in the Kansas City region.
With the Supreme Court's order, Missouri will proceed with its 2022 boundaries, and election officials can move forward with preparations for the midterms. The decision is a significant victory for Democrats and voting rights advocates who opposed the new map, and a setback for Republicans who had hoped to gain an advantage in the fight for the House. The court's action also reinforces the principle that lower courts should not disrupt election plans close to a vote, a consideration that has guided the justices in similar cases.
The Supreme Court's order leaves open the possibility of further legal challenges, but for now, the 2022 map will govern the 2026 congressional elections in Missouri. The ruling is the latest development in a long-running redistricting saga that has drawn national attention as both parties seek to shape the electoral landscape ahead of the midterms.
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