The U.S. Supreme Court late on Sept. 8 declined to restore a Republican-drawn congressional map for Missouri weeks ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections.
Acting on his own, Justice Brett Kavanaugh turned away Missouri’s emergency request to pause a unanimous Missouri Supreme Court ruling that on Sept. 3 blocked an election map backed by President Donald Trump from being used in the Nov. 3 midterm elections.
The state’s high court held that the map must be approved by voters in a November referendum before it can take effect.
Kavanaugh did not refer the matter to the full nine-member court before issuing his decision. The justice did not explain his ruling, which appears as a docket entry.
Under U.S. Supreme Court rules, Missouri still could present its emergency application to another justice.
The ruling, which may hinder Republican efforts to maintain their majority in the U.S. House of Representatives, could help longtime Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) retain his seat.
His Kansas City-based district had been broken up under the redrawn map the state legislature approved in 2025.
The ruling means the general election in November will be based on the 2022 map, even though the primary election was held on Aug. 4 based on the 2025 map.
This is a developing story that will be updated.
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