← Latest briefing

Politics

Federal judge blocks Missouri from using old congressional districts in November

A federal court ordered Missouri to use new Republican-backed maps, PBS NewsHour reports.

The short version

  • U.S. District Judge Stephen Clark issued a temporary restraining order requiring Missouri to run the November election under newly redrawn congressional lines.[PBS NewsHour]
  • The federal ruling directly conflicts with a Missouri Supreme Court decision, left intact by the U.S. Supreme Court, that mandated old districts due to a citizen referendum petition.[PBS NewsHour]
  • State officials, including Attorney General Catherine Hanaway and Secretary of State Denny Hoskins, said Missouri is prepared to follow the federal court order.[PBS NewsHour]

Key facts

  • U.S. District Judge Stephen Clark issued a temporary restraining order requiring Missouri to use new Republican-backed districts in November.[PBS NewsHour]
  • The Missouri Supreme Court had previously blocked the new map because residents gathered petition signatures demanding a statewide referendum vote.[PBS NewsHour]
  • The U.S. Supreme Court declined to overturn the Missouri Supreme Court's order reinstating the state's previous districts.[PBS NewsHour]
  • Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway stated that the state will comply with the federal restraining order.[PBS NewsHour]

What remains uncertain

  • How election administrators will navigate conflicting instructions from the federal district court and the Missouri Supreme Court remains unresolved.[PBS NewsHour]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.