The US Supreme Court has rejected Missouri Republicans’ bid to use a newly drawn congressional map in November’s election, leaving voters likely to return to the district boundaries used two years ago.
Justice Brett Kavanaugh refused an emergency request backed by state Republicans to suspend a ruling by the Missouri Supreme Court, which ordered the earlier map to be restored and required voters to decide the fate of the new boundaries in a referendum.
The decision means Missouri’s 2022 congressional map is expected to remain in force for the 3 November general election. The Republican-drawn replacement map could only take effect in future elections if it is approved by voters.
Kavanaugh dealt with the application because he oversees urgent matters arising from the 8th US Circuit, which includes Missouri. He gave no explanation for the decision and did not refer the matter to the full Supreme Court.
Missouri officials could try asking another justice to intervene, although such applications are rarely granted. The Supreme Court also seldom overturns state court decisions concerning state referendum procedures.
The dispute has created an unusual election complication because Missouri held its congressional primaries last month using the new map. About 1.2 million people voted under those boundaries, and election officials now face the task of preparing for a general election under different district lines.
Lawyers for Secretary of State Denny Hoskins had warned the justices that switching maps at this stage would cause “disaster” and “unprecedented chaos”. They argued that candidates, voters and local election authorities had already acted on the new districts.
Opponents of the map said the disruption had been created by Mr Hoskins himself. Democrats pointed to arguments from Republican leaders that delaying the referendum decision would work to the party’s advantage.
The Missouri Supreme Court ruled last week that a petition bearing more than 300,000 signatures was sufficient to force a statewide vote on the redistricting legislation. It said the earlier map remained legally effective unless and until voters approved the replacement.
President Donald Trump criticised that ruling in a post on Truth Social, writing: “The Election Process, as usual, is being disturbed in America! Missouri must be able to use the map that was in effect just a couple of months ago, in the Primary. This is a Dark Day for ‘Justice’ in Missouri!”
