Gov. Mike Kehoe says the "Missouri First Map will be used in the general election"

Governor of Missouri, posting on his official @GovMikeKehoe account

“We are grateful for Chief Judge Clark’s decision to provide much-needed clarity for Missouri voters and the election process. With today marking the deadline for changes to the November ballot, the Missouri First Map will be used in the general election. Voters and candidates deserve consistency, certainty, and not to have the rules changed between elections.”
Read the original post (opens in a new tab)Gov. Mike Kehoe on X: Missouri First Map will be used in the general election · Mike KehoeFull X post, published 2026-09-08 23:07 UTC (6:07 p.m. CDT)
Read the original text (opens in a new tab)Onder v. Missouri, No. 4:26-cv-01424-SRC, Memorandum and Order (E.D. Mo. Sept. 8, 2026)Doc. 35, pp. 1-13
Read the original text (opens in a new tab)People Not Politicians v. Onder, No. 26A388: per curiam order granting stay (September 25, 2026) · Supreme Court of the United StatesSlip opinion pp. 1-5 (per curiam), September 25, 2026
Read the original text (opens in a new tab)Order in pending case 26A326, People Not Politicians v. Onder (September 10, 2026) · Supreme Court of the United StatesOrder list of September 10, 2026, No. 26A326
Read the original text (opens in a new tab)Onder v. Missouri, No. 26-2797 (8th Cir. Sept. 21, 2026) (per curiam) · United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth CircuitOpinion pp. 3-4 (holding), pp. 33-35 (Part VI) and pp. 35-40 (Stras, J., concurring in part and dissenting in part)

Source and context

Original post

Gov. Mike Kehoe on X: Missouri First Map will be used in the general election (opens in a new tab) · Mike KehoeFull X post, published 2026-09-08 23:07 UTC (6:07 p.m. CDT)

About this source

Post from the governor's official account, a government-verified account, published the evening Chief Judge Stephen Clark issued his temporary restraining order.

Original text

Onder v. Missouri, No. 4:26-cv-01424-SRC, Memorandum and Order (E.D. Mo. Sept. 8, 2026) (opens in a new tab)Doc. 35, pp. 1-13

About this source

Temporary restraining order in the lawsuit filed by Rep. Bob Onder, Rick Brattin and two voters. It directs Missouri to use the 2025 map (House Bill 1) for the November 2026 general election. The Supreme Court stayed this order on September 10.

Archived copy (opens in a new tab)

Original text

People Not Politicians v. Onder, No. 26A388: per curiam order granting stay (September 25, 2026) (opens in a new tab) · Supreme Court of the United StatesSlip opinion pp. 1-5 (per curiam), September 25, 2026

About this source

Unsigned per curiam order on an application that Circuit Justice Brett Kavanaugh referred to the full Court. It stays the Eighth Circuit's September 21 mandate and September 22 order and the district court's September 21 and 22 injunctions, keeps the Court's September 10 stay in place, and says the lower courts should not prohibit use of the 2022 map or require use of the 2025 map in the 2026 congressional election in Missouri. The text of the order shows no separate opinion or noted dissent.

Original text

Order in pending case 26A326, People Not Politicians v. Onder (September 10, 2026) (opens in a new tab) · Supreme Court of the United StatesOrder list of September 10, 2026, No. 26A326

About this source

One-page unsigned order staying the district court's September 8 order pending the Eighth Circuit appeal and any timely petition for certiorari. The order gives no reasoning.

Archived copy (opens in a new tab)

Original text

Onder v. Missouri, No. 26-2797 (8th Cir. Sept. 21, 2026) (per curiam) (opens in a new tab) · United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth CircuitOpinion pp. 3-4 (holding), pp. 33-35 (Part VI) and pp. 35-40 (Stras, J., concurring in part and dissenting in part)

About this source

Published per curiam opinion affirming Chief Judge Stephen Clark's temporary restraining order and directing entry of a permanent injunction requiring the 2025 map, with the injunction administratively stayed until September 28, 2026 at 5 p.m. Central time. Judge Stras concurred in part and dissented in part, writing that he would dismiss the appeal because People Not Politicians and Richard von Glahn lack standing.

Before the quotation

Chief Judge Stephen Clark issued an order on September 8 requiring Missouri to use the 2025 map, shortly after Justice Brett Kavanaugh denied Secretary of State Denny Hoskins's application to stay the Supreme Court of Missouri's ruling.

After the quotation

The U.S. Supreme Court stayed Clark's order on September 10. The Eighth Circuit recorded that the 2025 map was passed in an extraordinary session called by Kehoe.

How this statement is classified

Defended or excused

Case context: Should Missouri be allowed to use its 2025 congressional map 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. Kehoe supports that use and objects to changing rules between the primary and the general election. The closest competing label, “Challenged the characterization”, loses because he defends the outcome rather than disputing a description.

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More from this case

Read the full case

Mike Kehoe

“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.”
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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