Missouri is poised to revert to former districts after Supreme Court rejects Trump-backed map
PBS News Hour – Politics — 2026-09-10 18:25:00 — www.pbs.org
Trump-Backed Redistricting Map Rejected by Supreme Court, Missouri to Use 2022 Districts
The U.S. Supreme Court has once again rejected a congressional map backed by President Donald Trump, dealing a blow to Republican efforts to secure an additional House seat in Missouri ahead of the pivotal midterm elections. Trump had urged lawmakers last year to approve his preferred map and sought court approval to use it in the upcoming November general election.
Trump’s Push for a New Map
Trump wanted courts to allow the use of his preferred congressional map, which lawmakers approved at his urging. The revised map, designed to benefit Republicans, would have significantly altered the shape of Missouri’s 5th Congressional District, shifting large portions of Kansas City into rural Republican areas. According to Associated Press estimates, about 59% of potential voters in the district would have been new under the Trump-backed version.
Legal Confusion and Court Orders
The Supreme Court’s decision marks the end of a protracted legal battle that has caused confusion for voters and election officials. Missouri’s chief election official, Republican Secretary of State Denny Hoskins, had initially instructed local authorities to use the Trump-backed map, citing a conflicting federal court order. However, after the Supreme Court’s latest action, Hoskins reversed course and directed the use of the 2022 congressional map, as previously ordered by Missouri’s highest court.
Impact on Missouri Voters
This rare situation means that Missouri could run the November election with different U.S. House districts than those used in the August primary, potentially changing candidate choices for more than a million voters statewide. Despite the confusion, no court has suggested redoing the primary.
Background on the Redistricting Battle
Missouri’s redistricting fight began over a year ago, with Trump urging Republicans to redraw House districts to their advantage. The Trump-backed map specifically targeted a seat held by Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, aiming to help Republicans win seven of the state’s eight House seats. Opponents of the new map gathered hundreds of thousands of signatures to force a statewide vote, but the petition was delayed and ultimately rejected by Secretary Hoskins on the day of the primary.
Conclusion
The Supreme Court’s rejection of the Trump-backed map means Missouri will use the congressional districts passed after the last census for the November election. Trump’s efforts to reshape Missouri’s political landscape through redistricting have been blocked by the courts, leaving the final decision in the hands of Missouri voters this fall.