Sept. 23 (UPI) — For the third time in a month the U.S. Supreme Court is taking up the legal battle over Missouri’s redistricted congressional map following a lower court ruling that sided with the new map.
The Supreme Court has twice ruled against the new map, clearing the way for the state to use a congressional map drawn in 2022, which it also used in 2024. On Monday, the Eighth Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals in favor of the new map which was drawn to favor Republicans.
Opponents of adopting the new map asked the Supreme Court on Tuesday to again weigh in, arguing that ballots have already been sent out using that map and a change at this late stage would create “chaos on both sides on Election Day.”
Missouri held its primaries under the new map in August before it was struck down by the courts. Reverting to the 2022 map will move some voters into different districts than they were in during the primary, raising concerns about voting rights.
In its ruling on Monday, the Court of Appeals said that holding the election under different district lines than the primary would be unconstitutional.
If the Supreme Court does not take action, the lower court ruling will stand, taking effect next week to direct Missouri to move forward with its new congressional map for the midterm elections and beyond.
Missouri’s redistricting effort followed a call from President Donald Trump to Republican-led states to redraw their maps to pick up seats in Congress and maintain a Republican majority. The call launched both Republican and Democrat-led states to redraw maps with partisan goals in mind.
Missouri’s new map most notably shifted congressional lines in Kansas City to turn a Democrat-leaning district into a more favorable district for Republicans.
Republicans hold six of Missouri’s eight U.S. House seats.
Source: U.S. News
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