Supreme Court Keeps Missouri’s 2022 Congressional Map

Court settles the map dispute

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Friday that Missouri must conduct its 2026 congressional election using the state’s 2022 district map rather than the map enacted in 2025. The unsigned, unanimous decision said state law controls which map applies.

The court said its Sept. 10 order required use of the 2022 boundaries unless the justices issued another order. The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and U.S. Chief District Judge Stephen Clark later directed the state to use the 2025 map, creating conflicting instructions during election preparations.

Friday’s ruling ends those disputes for the 2026 election. The court said changing back to the 2025 map after voting had begun would disrupt the election.

What changes for voters

Missouri voters will use the same congressional districts used in the previous two election cycles. Election officials, who began accepting absentee ballots Tuesday, can continue under the 2022 boundaries.

The decision creates a difference between the districts used for the Aug. 4 primary and those that will apply in the general election. Voters in 28 counties will be assigned to different congressional districts than they were during the primary. The changes affect the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th districts.

The legislature’s 2025 map would have extended Kansas City’s 5th District farther into rural counties along the Missouri River. Under the 2022 map, U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver received 60% of the vote in each of the past two elections.

Election administration

Secretary of State Denny Hoskins’ solicitor general, Lou Capozzi, warned before the ruling that either outcome would create administrative problems. He said using the 2025 map would risk missing the federal deadline for sending ballots to military and overseas voters.

Local election offices must now ensure voter assignments and general-election ballots reflect the 2022 districts, including in counties where the primary used different boundaries.