ReportKavanaugh denies Missouri's map bid — then judge orders itAired September 10, 2026 at 6:53 AM UTCWritten September 10, 2026 at 6:55 AM UTCRead the write-upThis storyTranscript · LOADING0:00Missouri's election will run on a map its highest court says never became law.0:05The fight is over one congressional seat, and with control of the House on the line,0:09both courts have issued orders that cannot both be obeyed.0:12The question now, which court's order will the U.S.0:15Supreme Court let stand?0:17That single seat is the whole prize.0:19The map drawn during a special session last fall would give Republicans seven of0:23Missouri's eight House districts instead of the current six.0:26The current lines keep Kansas City together.0:29The new map carves it up, stretching the remaining fifth district into rural0:32Republican territory, and the district it was designed to eliminate is held by0:36Democratic Representative Emmanuel Cleaver.0:39On September 3rd, the state's highest court held that the new map never became law0:43because voters had filed a valid referendum petition.0:46Five of the seven justices were appointed by Republican governors, but the vote was0:50unanimous.0:51Then, on September 8th, Justice Kavanaugh left that ruling in place, and within0:55minutes, a federal judge in St.0:57Louis ordered the exact opposite.0:59The court was clear.1:00The map is suspended until Missourians vote on it.1:03That's because the state constitution lets the people call a referendum on any act1:07of the General Assembly, and congressional redistricting is not exempt.1:11The map divides one city across three congressional districts.1:15That's the mechanism that would flip the fifth district, and it's at the center of1:19this constitutional fight.1:20Judge Clark, a Trump appointee, argued that the primary already happened on these1:24lines.1:25He said reverting now would create an equal protection injury, and he cited the1:28Supreme Court's own Purcell principle.1:31But in reverse, instead of freezing the status quo, he used it to lock in the map1:35already used.1:35Secretary of State Hoskins rejected the referendum on primary day, arguing the1:40Constitution doesn't allow a referendum on congressional maps.1:43The state Supreme Court said that theory was wrong.1:46Now Hoskins has been ordered to appear Thursday morning to show why he shouldn't be1:50held in contempt because he said he'll obey the federal judge instead.1:53The clocks are tight.1:54If the Supreme Court stays the federal order, the old map and the referendum1:58control.1:59If it leaves the order standing, the new map is used at least through a preliminary2:02injunction hearing, and with ballot programming deadlines already passing, whichever2:06map gets loaded is likely the one that stays loaded.2:09So which order bends?2:11The referendum backers filed a new emergency application, and the Supreme Court set2:15a response deadline for Thursday morning.2:17Until then, Missouri has two maps and one election calendar, and one seat that could2:22help decide control of the House.Explore with HeyDexFollow via RSSThe shortThe short ↗