The Supreme Court of Missouri rules that the 2025 map "is not the law and has never been the law"
Unanimous en banc opinion of Missouri's highest court, written by Judge Ginger K. Gooch
“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.”
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
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.
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.
- Recorded on
- Published here
Should Missouri be allowed to use its 2025 congressional map in the 2026 general election?
Explore the case context, sources and public responses.
More from this case
Read the full case“It is disappointing that today’s decision by the United States Supreme Court means Missouri will conduct its November general election under a different congressional map than its primary election. Voters deserved consistency and certainty, and not for the rules to be changed between elections. Nevertheless, Missouri will follow the Court’s order.”Read statement
Supreme Court of the United States
“In short, as a matter of state law, the 2022 map—not the 2025 map—must be used in the 2026 congressional election. … At this late date, ordering reversion to the 2025 map in the midst of an ongoing election would usher in electoral chaos. Purcell protects against such disorder. … 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.”Read statement
Campaign Legal Center
“Pursuant to this Court’s orders and the Missouri Supreme Court’s ruling on state law, election administration has proceeded under the 2022 map, ballots have already been mailed, and voting has begun. … This Court must once again step in to restore order by granting the Applicants’ requested relief.”Read statement