Competing Court Orders Create Uncertainty for Missouri Congressional Elections

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Conflicting court orders have created uncertainty surrounding Missouri's congressional elections. On Friday, a federal judge approved a new congressional map for the state, hours after the Missouri Supreme Court struck down an earlier map passed by the state legislature.

U.S. District Judge Sarah Hays, based in Jefferson City, issued an order stating that the newly approved map would be used for the upcoming elections. This map divides the state into eight congressional districts.

Earlier the same day, the Missouri Supreme Court ruled 4-3 that the map passed by the Missouri General Assembly in 2022 violated the state's constitution. The state court found that the map contained non-contiguous districts, specifically in Boone County, where it divided a precinct into two congressional districts. The court's ruling sent the map back to a Cole County judge for further proceedings.

The Missouri General Assembly had approved the initial map in 2022. Several weeks after the state Supreme Court’s decision, the Assembly approved the revised map in a special session. State lawmakers had considered several map versions before reaching a consensus. Republican state Senator Denny Hoskins expressed concerns about a state constitutional amendment approved by voters in 2018, which established criteria for drawing district lines. "I am still concerned with how we get through this election with this unconstitutional ballot initiative that the people passed," Hoskins stated.

The federal court's decision followed a lawsuit filed by plaintiffs who sought to compel the use of a new congressional map. The plaintiffs included a campaign donor, a former federal prosecutor, and a state lawmaker. The plaintiffs' petition argued that Missouri voters needed a lawful map to participate in elections. The federal court's order outlined a schedule for candidates to declare their districts, beginning in mid-April. This includes deadlines for a candidate's statement of candidacy and filing fees or petitions.

Attorneys for some plaintiffs in the state Supreme Court case indicated they would likely appeal the federal court's ruling. "We are reviewing the order and anticipate filing an appeal," said state Representative Peggy McGaugh, a Republican from western Missouri who was among the plaintiffs.