The U.S. Supreme Court has blocked Missouri from using a newly drawn congressional map that could have given Republicans an advantage in seven of the state’s eight House districts during the 2026 midterm elections.

The court’s action leaves the congressional map established after the 2020 census in place for the November general election. That map currently produces six Republican-held districts and two Democratic-held districts.

Missouri Republicans had enacted a new map in 2025 that was designed to reshape the state’s congressional districts, including the Kansas City-based 5th District held by Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver. The new boundaries could have given Republicans a seventh favorable district. Former President Donald Trump had backed the redistricting effort.

The dispute became increasingly complicated after opponents of the new map gathered enough signatures to place a referendum on the November ballot. The Missouri Supreme Court ruled September 3 that the referendum was legally valid and that the new map could not be used unless Missouri voters approved it. The court ordered officials to continue using the 2022 congressional boundaries for the 2026 election.

A federal judge subsequently ordered Missouri to use the new map, creating conflicting instructions for state election officials. The dispute ultimately returned to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court's latest order prevents the newly drawn map from being used for the November election, resolving the immediate question of which congressional boundaries will govern the general election. Missouri voters will also have the opportunity to vote on the redistricting referendum in November.

The ruling is significant for the closely contested battle for control of the House, where Missouri's eight congressional districts will be contested under the existing boundaries rather than the map Republicans had sought to implement.