Supreme Court rejects Missouri Republicans’ request to use new congressional map

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a last-ditch effort by Missouri Republicans to use a newly drawn congressional map, which was designed to maximize their political power, for this year’s midterm elections.

In a brief order issued by Justice Brett Kavanaugh, the court left in place a Missouri Supreme Court ruling last week that said the map could not be used while a ballot initiative that could lead to the redrawn map’s being tossed out by voters moves forward. Kavanaugh handles emergency requests that arise from Missouri.

The 2025 Republican redistricting plan, part of a wave prompted by President Donald Trump, was designed to eliminate one of the state’s two Democratic-held seats, currently held by Rep. Emanuel Cleaver.

But the Supreme Court’s decision means the 2022 map, with six Republican-held seats and two Democratic-held seats, will remain in place.

The legal clash erupted after the 2025 redistricting plan was enacted.

A group called People Not Politicians Missouri, led by Richard von Glahn, gathered signatures in support of a state referendum that would veto the Legislature’s map and put it on hold for the 2026 election.

But Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins, a Republican, refused to put the…

Original source: https://www.nbcnews.com/sports