“The Supreme Court of the United States will just not let Missouri have an Election Victory. They continuously, three times now, overrule Judges who came to the correct decisions. Thank you to the Governor, and all of the Great People of Missouri, who are fighting so hard for Fairness and Election Security. Such tremendous Spirit and Love of our Country. I won Missouri BIG, all three times, and I couldn't be more proud of doing so. A great place — I love you all!
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The Missouri Supreme Court Unanimously Pulls the Trump-Backed Congressional Map Out of the November Election and Hands It to the Voters — After It Had Already Been Used in the August Primary, and Nine Weeks Before the Midterms
September 3, 2026
On September 3, 2026 the Missouri Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the congressional map Republicans passed in a 2025 special session at President Trump's urging cannot be used in the November midterms, and that Missourians will instead vote on whether to keep or reject it. Writing for the court, Judge Ginger K. Gooch held that "the referendum petition was legal, sufficient, and timely, and the secretary incorrectly concluded otherwise," and that the map "did not go into effect and will not go into effect unless and until approved by the voters." The 2022 map drawn after the 2020 census stays in force for the general election. The map was drawn to break up Rep. Emanuel Cleaver's 5th District — splitting Kansas City across three districts — and was expected to net Republicans one House seat. Opponents organized by People Not Politicians gathered more than 300,000 signatures for a veto referendum in December. Republican Secretary of State Denny Hoskins waited until primary election day in August to reject the petition, on the theory that the referendum process does not reach congressional redistricting. The court rejected that reading. The ruling is, on the Republican side's own account, without precedent: no court had previously pulled a congressional map after a primary had already been run under it and before the general election. Attorney General Catherine Hanaway said she would seek immediate relief from the U.S. Supreme Court and called the decision a constitutional crisis; Gov. Mike Kehoe and Hoskins issued statements attacking the court; state Sen. Rick Brattin called the majority "liberal activist." Trump posted that it was a "Dark Day for 'Justice' in Missouri." Cleaver and Rep. Wesley Bell called it a win for voters.
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“[Hoskins called the ruling] a disappointing blow to representative democracy, [but said] I appreciate the final clarity.
“[Brattin called the outcome] the most unprecedented form of voter disenfranchisement in American history, and Missouri voters deserve far better. … Judges are not kings, and courts are not legislatures.
“I feel relieved, because the confusion over this mid-decade redistricting had become a talking point around the country that, frankly, wasn't that healthy for Missouri. … The joy I feel now is generated by the fact that the people won this battle.
“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.
“So really, the question is whether 1.2 million Missouri voters would be disenfranchised by an activist Missouri Supreme Court. And I think today the 8th Circuit said no … they would not be. That those votes cast on August 4 would count. I think it's a big victory for democracy and for the rule of law.
“Following the United States Supreme Court's stay, the only governing court order in effect is from the Missouri Supreme Court. In accordance with that order, my Office is directing local election authorities to use the 2022 congressional map.
“A win for justice. A win for democracy. A win for the people of Missouri.
“It is my hope that state officials will start following court orders and end this shameful attempt to break Missouri law and silence Missouri voters.
“This is how Democracies collapse. Corrupt officials defy the courts; the courts act to hold them responsible; corrupt officials eliminate the courts.
“I look forward to my day in court.
“A federal court has ordered Missouri to use the HB 1 map for the November election. Secretary Hoskins should not be punished by a state court for complying with that order. If the federal ruling is disputed, the proper path is an appeal through the federal courts.
“The Missouri First Congressional Map stands as the Law of the Land. I promised I would never stop fighting for Missourians and I have gone to the mat on that. Today United States District Court, Eastern District Judge Stephen Clark issued a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO), mandating use of HB-1, the Missouri First Congressional Map. This victory halts a full-on constitutional crisis.
“Missouri is prepared to follow and comply with Chief Judge Clark's order that binds the state to using the Missouri First map for the November General Election. We appreciate Judge Clark's support of the rights of Missouri voters, and intend to comply with this federal ruling. We maintain that changing the congressional map in between the primary and general elections is simply not feasible and profoundly unjust to Missouri voters.
“I think the message from Judge Clark was very clear that the Missouri First map is in effect. I believe that the federal court does trump the Missouri Supreme Court.
“Information provided by the litigation team is that the federal court's ruling, based on federal law, takes precedence over the Missouri Supreme Court's order, which is based on state law. This is in accordance with the U.S. Constitution's Supremacy Clause.
“While I am disappointed that the U.S. Supreme Court was not able to grant relief, I understand that the standard for review in our nation's highest court limits what they can do in an unprecedented case such as this one.
“I am glad for the citizens of our state that the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri issued a temporary restraining order that will allow the use of the Missouri First map for the general election, ensuring voters will not be disenfranchised by being forced to vote in a different district for November.
“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.
“We have just appealed yesterday’s catastrophic ruling to the Supreme Court of the United States. We look forward to the Court’s prompt review of this critical matter, as our ability to hold timely and lawful congressional elections hangs in the balance.
“A federal-election-administration disaster is unfolding in Missouri. … Missouri cannot run a timely, lawful federal election absent a stay.
“The Missouri Supreme Court just ridiculously ruled in favor of changing the maps back to what they were a long time ago. It's called, Ancient History! The problem is, according to Legal Scholars, that not only was the ruling horrible, ridiculous, and unConstitutional, but there won't be enough time to change the map back with the Election coming up in a very short period of time. The Election Process, as usual, is being disturbed in America! Missouri must be able to use the map that was in effect just a couple of months ago, in the Primary. This is a Dark Day for 'Justice' in Missouri!
“Never before in American history has a court overturned a congressional map after a primary and before a general election. This unprecedented decision clearly violates federal law and has thrust our state into a full-fledged constitutional crisis.
“Missouri will not become another New York City or Los Angeles on my watch.
“We may have lost the battle today, but the war to preserve our constitutional republic is far from over.
“Our office will move immediately to seek relief from (the United States Supreme Court). We are confident that the federal courts will not allow every Missouri voter to be disenfranchised — which is what today’s decision does.
“I think his whole campaign strategy was hoping that the courts would do his bidding for him. I don't think that he represents Missouri values.
“I'm not surprised that a liberal activist majority on the Missouri Supreme Court has handed Democrats a decision they desperately needed in their effort to help national Democrats retake the U.S. House of Representatives.
“Today's ruling affirms what we've been saying all along: voters should pick their representatives, not the other way around. Missourians will finally get to have their say at the ballot in November on rejecting these partisan and unconstitutional maps.
“They wanted to cheat. The polling data shows that the people in Missouri overwhelmingly oppose this — Black, White, brown, Republican, Democrat, independent.
“More than 305,000 Missourians demanded a say in who will represent them in the halls of Congress. Despite the cynical and deeply shameful attempt to silence many of our neighbors, the people fought back and won.
“Holding a primary election under one congressional map and a general election under another is unprecedented.