President Trump condemned the Missouri Supreme Court’s decision to block new congressional lines drawn to benefit Republicans from being used in the state’s November election, calling it a “Dark Day for ‘Justice’ in Missouri.”
The state’s highest court unanimously ruled Thursday that the map, which was used in the state’s primary elections last month, “did not go into effect and will not go into effect” unless approved by voters in a citizen-led referendum on the ballot this fall.
Trump wrote on Truth Social: “The Missouri Supreme Court just ridiculously ruled in favor of changing the maps back to what they were a long time ago. It’s called, Ancient History!”
The Ruling
The unanimous decision blocks the new congressional map from being used in November’s general election. The map had already been used in Missouri’s primary elections last month, creating confusion over which districts would apply for the general election.
The court ruled that the map cannot take effect unless voters approve it through a referendum in November. That means the state will revert to its previous congressional lines for the upcoming election.
The Politics
Republicans already control six of Missouri’s eight House seats. The new map could have paved the way for them to pick up an additional seat this fall. Democrats have been waging a nationwide redistricting battle aimed at reclaiming the House this November.
Trump and his administration have urged Republican-controlled states to debut new congressional maps ahead of this year’s midterms as part of their efforts to hold control of Congress.
The Reaction
Missouri’s Republican Attorney General Catherine Hanaway vowed to appeal the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court. “Our office will move immediately to seek relief from SCOTUS,” she wrote on social media. “We are confident that the federal courts will not allow every Missouri voter to be disenfranchised—which is what today’s decision does.”
The state’s Democratic Party celebrated the decision as a “VICTORY TO THE PEOPLE!” in a statement shared on social media. “The Missouri Supreme Court just unanimously ruled to reverse the gerrymandered, anti-democracy maps until THE PEOPLE have a chance to vote.”
Trump warned that there may not be enough time to change the map back before the election. “The Election Process, as usual, is being disturbed in America!” he wrote.
The Bottom Line
The Missouri Supreme Court blocked a GOP-friendly redistricting map from being used in November’s election, ruling that it cannot take effect unless approved by voters in a referendum. Republicans already control six of eight House seats, and the new map could have expanded their majority. Trump condemned the ruling as “ridiculous” and “unConstitutional.” The state’s Republican attorney general plans to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, while Democrats celebrated the decision as a victory against gerrymandering.
