Federal Judge Orders Missouri to Use 7-1 GOP House Map After Supreme Court Rebuff
Updated
Updated · CNN · Sep 8
Federal Judge Orders Missouri to Use 7-1 GOP House Map After Supreme Court Rebuff
3 articles · Updated · CNN · Sep 8
Summary
Judge Stephen Clark ordered Missouri late Tuesday to use the Republican-backed congressional map from its August primary for the November midterms, temporarily overriding uncertainty created when the Supreme Court refused emergency relief.
A 14-day order said changing maps between the primary and general election could violate equal protection and cause voter confusion, disrupted candidacies and questions about ballots already cast.
Justice Brett Kavanaugh had minutes earlier denied Missouri Republicans' request to use that same map, while groups challenging it immediately appealed Clark's ruling and sought an emergency pause.
The dispute centers on a 2025 map that could help Republicans flip 1 more House seat by reshaping Kansas City's Democratic-held 5th District; Missouri was set to finalize November ballots Tuesday evening.
The clash follows a Missouri Supreme Court ruling that revived a referendum petition with more than 300,000 signatures, making the state an early test in a broader redistricting fight affecting control of the House.