Why It Matters
The Missouri Supreme Court has escalated a legal battle over congressional redistricting by ordering Republican Secretary of State Denny Hoskins to appear in person for a contempt hearing. The conflict centers on which electoral map will be used for the upcoming fall elections, creating significant uncertainty for ballot finalization and voter registration.
What Happened
As first reported by nbcnews.com, the state’s highest court issued an order requiring Hoskins to explain why he should not be held in contempt of court. The directive follows a ruling by the Missouri Supreme Court stating that a new congressional map drawn by Republicans cannot be used because it violates state law regarding voter referendums.
Hoskins has continued to advocate for the use of the 2025 map despite the state supreme court’s prohibition. A federal judge, U.S. District Judge Stephen Clark, ruled on Tuesday that the new map must be implemented to prevent violations of the U.S. Constitution. This created a direct conflict between state and federal judicial orders.
The U.S. Supreme Court declined on Tuesday to block the Missouri Supreme Court’s ruling, while the St. Louis-based 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals also refused to stay the federal judge’s decision. The contempt hearing is scheduled for Thursday morning, with Hoskins required to attend in person.
By the Numbers
Tuesday — Deadline to finalize Missouri ballots ahead of fall elections; day U.S. Supreme Court declined to block state ruling
Thursday morning — Time set for contempt hearing regarding Secretary of State Denny Hoskins
Sept. 19 — Date first ballots are set to go out in Missouri
2025 — Year Republicans enacted the new congressional map
Two — Number of Democratic-held seats targeted for elimination by the 2025 map
Six — Number of Republican-held seats in the alternative 2022 map
Zoom Out
The dispute highlights ongoing tensions between state and federal courts over redistricting authority. The 2025 map enacted by Missouri Republicans sought to eliminate one of the state’s two Democratic-held congressional seats, currently held by Rep. Emanuel Cleaver. If the Missouri Supreme Court’s ruling remains in effect, the 2022 map will be used, which features six Republican-held seats and two Democratic-held seats.
A group called People Not Politicians gathered signatures for a state referendum to undo the GOP-drawn map. Hoskins refused to place the referendum measure on the ballot, arguing that redistricting plans are not subject to voter approval. The Missouri Supreme Court disagreed, stating that state law does not exempt congressional maps from voter veto via referendum. Notably, the Missouri Supreme Court has a majority of Republican appointees.
Hoskins posted on X that he would not back down and looks forward to his day in court. “I look forward to my day in court,” Hoskins told the NBC News. The legal standoff occurs just days before ballots must be finalized, raising questions about administrative compliance and potential delays in mail-in voting materials.
What’s Next
Hoskins is scheduled to appear before the Missouri Supreme Court on Thursday morning to address the contempt allegations. The court’s decision could determine whether state officials must adhere to the 2022 map or face penalties for using the 2025 version. With ballots set to go out on Sept. 19, any further legal delays could impact election administration timelines.