U.S. briefing
Supreme Court temporarily blocks Missouri's new congressional map
The unsigned order directs Missouri to use its 2022 congressional map in November, temporarily blocking new districts that could give Republicans another House seat.
The Supreme Court on Thursday temporarily barred Missouri from using its newly drawn congressional map in this year's midterm elections. In an unsigned order with no noted dissents, the justices directed Secretary of State Denny Hoskins to use the state's 2022 map for the November vote. They gave no explanation for the decision.
Missouri's House delegation currently consists of six Republicans and two Democrats. The blocked map targets the seat held by longtime Democratic Representative Emanuel Cleaver and could produce a seven-to-one Republican advantage. The order temporarily blocks a lower court ruling requiring the new districts to be used.
Before the Supreme Court acted, lawyers for Hoskins and the state argued that switching maps would impose substantial burdens because August's primaries had already taken place under the new districts. They also argued that the challenge could disrupt the midterm elections and disenfranchise voters.