Missouri court blocks GOP gerrymander, keeps 2022 House map

The Missouri Supreme Court ruled on Friday that a Republican-backed congressional map will not go into effect in time for the 2024 elections, keeping the 2022 lines that likely favor Democrats for one more election cycle.

The decision means Missouri voters will decide in November whether to overturn the GOP gerrymander through a referendum. The court’s order pauses the new map—which splits Democratic-leaning Kansas City into four districts and shores up five GOP seats—until after the referendum. Democrats argued the map was an illegal partisan gerrymander, while Republicans said it followed state law. The court’s action is a rare win for Democrats in a state where the GOP controls redistricting and the legislature.

Missouri’s 2022 congressional map, drawn by the Republican-led legislature, was widely criticized for diluting Democratic votes. Under the current lines, Missouri sends six Republicans and two Democrats to Congress. Analysts say the new map would have cemented a 6-2 GOP advantage by cracking Kansas City’s Black and Latino communities across multiple districts. The referendum, set for November, gives voters the final say. If the GOP map is rejected, the 2022 lines—which include two competitive districts—will likely stay in place through 2026.

What happens next hinges on the referendum. If voters reject the GOP map, Democrats could net one House seat in Missouri’s 2026 elections, depending on turnout and candidate strength. The outcome could also influence national races, as Missouri’s congressional delegation currently leans heavily Republican. The case highlights ongoing battles over gerrymandering nationwide, where courts and voters are increasingly stepping in when lawmakers fail to draw fair maps. The Missouri Supreme Court’s decision buys time for Democrats but leaves the state’s political future unsettled.