Supreme Court blocks Missouri from using new map favoring GOP in midterm elections

September 10, 2026 / 11:16 AM EDT / CBS News

The Supreme Court on Thursday temporarily blocked Missouri from using a newly drawn congressional map that favors Republicans in this year's midterm elections.

In an unsigned order with no noted dissents, the Supreme Court said that Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins must use a 2022 congressional map in the November elections, not a new congressional map that would favor Republicans and could eliminate a seat held by Democrats.

Missouri currently has six Republicans and two Democrats in its U.S. House delegation, and the new map targets one of the Democratic seats, which could result in a 7-1 split favoring Republicans. The proposed map targeted the seat of longtime Rep. Emanuel Cleaver.

The decision, for now, blocks a lower court decision by Missouri U.S. District Judge Stephen Clark, who said Tuesday that the new map must be used. Late Thursday, Clark refused to stay his order, and a panel of judges on the Eight Circuit Court of Appeals is currently overseeing an appeal of his order.

The justices did not say why they blocked the new map.

Minutes before the high court's order, lawyers for Hoskins and Missouri said in…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/moneywatch/