The Supreme Court of Missouri rules that the 2025 map "is not the law and has never been the law"
Supreme Court of MissouriUnanimous en banc opinion of Missouri's highest court, written by Judge Ginger K. Gooch
In a unanimous en banc opinion by Judge Ginger Gooch, the court said House Bill 1 "is not the law and has never been the law" and that the 2022 districts remain in force for the November 2026 general election. It ordered Secretary of State Denny Hoskins to certify the referendum petition and enjoined him from using the 2025 map.
Responding to
Under the Missouri Constitution, the referendum petition kept House Bill 1 from taking effect, so the 2022 map is the only valid congressional map and must be used in the 2026 general election.
“HB 1 is not the law and has never been the law. There is only one valid congressional redistricting in effect—the congressional redistricting the General Assembly established in 2022. … The congressional redistricting the General Assembly established in 2022 remains in full force and effect for the November 2026 general election.”
Original text
Reporting
Reporting
Where this statement fits
Should Missouri be allowed to use its 2025 congressional map in the 2026 general election?
Missouri lawmakers passed a new congressional map, House Bill 1, in September 2025, and the State used it in the August 4, 2026 primary. On September 3, 2026, the Supreme Court of Missouri ruled unanimously that a referendum petition kept the map from taking effect and that the 2022 map remains in force for the November general election. Gov. Mike Kehoe, Attorney General Catherine Hanaway, Secretary of State Denny Hoskins and President Donald Trump said in early September that the primary map should be used in November, and the Eighth Circuit held on September 21 that using the 2022 map violates the U.S. Constitution. People Not Politicians, the Campaign Legal Center and the ACLU argued that Missouri law makes the 2022 map the only valid map and that ballots had been mailed under it. On September 25, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court, in an unsigned per curiam order that records no dissent, stayed the federal injunctions, said that under state law the 2022 map must be used, and said lower courts should not require use of the 2025 map in the 2026 election. Kehoe called that decision disappointing and said Missouri will follow the order.
Source and context
Original text
About this source
Unanimous opinion reversing the Cole County Circuit Court. It holds that the referendum petition on House Bill 1 was legal, sufficient and timely, orders the Secretary of State to certify it for the November 2026 ballot, and enjoins him from using the 2025 map in the November 2026 general election unless voters approve it.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Reporting
About this source
Report that Secretary of State Denny Hoskins declared the referendum petition unconstitutional a few hours before polls closed in the August 4 primary, and that People Not Politicians sued in Cole County Circuit Court that night.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Reporting
About this source
Report on the Supreme Court of Missouri's September 3 ruling, with reactions from Attorney General Catherine Hanaway, Secretary of State Denny Hoskins, Richard von Glahn and President Donald Trump.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
Secretary of State Denny Hoskins declared the referendum petition unconstitutional on August 4, 2026, the day of the primary, and the primary was held in the boundaries drawn in 2025.
After the quotation
Hoskins issued a statement the same day calling the rulings a constitutional crisis, and Attorney General Catherine Hanaway said her office would seek relief from the U.S. Supreme Court.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The reference point is use of the 2025 map in the 2026 general election. The court holds that the map never took effect and enjoins its use in that election. The closest competing label, “Challenged the characterization”, loses because the court goes beyond disputing a description and directs that the map not be used.
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More from this case
Read the full caseRichard von Glahn says People Not Politicians is "done with corrupt politicians trying to force their map into effect"
“We are done with corrupt politicians trying to force their map into effect outside the process outlined in the Missouri constitution. We have said from the beginning, people, not politicians will be the final deciders on this DC power grab. We are moving forward to vote NO on Proposition A.”Read statement
The National Democratic Redistricting Committee says the Supreme Court "denied Missouri Republicans' third attempt to jam through their 2025 gerrymander"
National Democratic Redistricting Committee
“BREAKING: SCOTUS just denied Missouri Republicans' third attempt to jam through their 2025 gerrymander! 👏 This reaffirms what the state's highest court already said weeks ago — the 2025 map was never the law. Missouri Republicans tried to silence voters. Today, they lost.”Read statement
Rep. Emanuel Cleaver says the Supreme Court "put this shameful and unlawful scheme to rest"
“For more than a year, state officials have spent precious time, energy, and resources on an effort to silence the voices of Missouri voters and steal a congressional seat. Tonight, after more than 305,000 Missourians demanded a say, the Supreme Court has put this shameful and unlawful scheme to rest. Power to the people.”Read statement
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The Dispute Index. "The Supreme Court of Missouri rules that the 2025 map "is not the law and has never been the law"". First published: 2026-09-26. Last updated: 2026-09-26. https://disputeindex.com/events/2670-in-a-unanimous-en-banc-opinion-by-judge