The Supreme Court on Friday blocked Missouri Republicans from using a new congressional map for the 2026 midterm elections, ordering the state to instead use its 2022 map. It was the third time the court has rejected the GOP-drawn map in this litigation, according to multiple outlets.
The map at issue, backed by President Trump, was designed to create a map favoring Republicans in seven of eight House districts, up from the current 6-2 split, according to Politico. The Supreme Court's unsigned decision said ordering Missouri to restore the 2025 map "would usher in electoral chaos," according to CBS News.
The ruling comes as absentee voting is already under way in Missouri for the midterm elections, according to The Guardian and The Washington Times. The Washington Post said the decision ends a complicated legal fight that had injected uncertainty into November's elections in the state.
The Washington Examiner said the decision likely prevents any House pickups for the Republican Party in Missouri for this election cycle. CNN described the case as the GOP's third effort to capture a Democratic House seat in the state.
How each side covered it
Left
- Outlets emphasized this was the third Supreme Court rejection of the Trump-backed GOP map, calling it a major blow to Republicans.
- Reports highlighted the Court's unsigned decision warning that restoring the 2025 map would cause 'electoral chaos.'
- Coverage noted the ruling ends uncertainty for November's midterms with absentee voting already underway in Missouri.
- Several outlets framed the case as GOP's failed attempt to flip a Democratic-held House seat via gerrymandering.
“SCOTUS Smacks Down MAGA Map of Missouri” — Mother Jones
Center
- Coverage focused on the Supreme Court blocking the GOP-favored map for a third time, citing 'chaos' concerns as the Court's rationale.
- Reports described the decision as a setback for Republicans, who must now use the older map for November's election.
“The Supreme Court on Friday blocked a directive for Missouri Republicans to use their favored congressional map, again, making clear to officials they must return to an old design for November after the state's messy redistricting battle.” — The Hill
Right
- Outlets reported the Court ordered Missouri to revert to its 2022 map for the 2026 election, ending the legal dispute.
- Coverage quoted the Court's reasoning that its conclusion
- Several outlets noted the ruling likely prevents any House seat pickups for Republicans in Missouri.
- Reports framed the map as Trump-backed and noted absentee voting was already underway when the decision came.
“The Supreme Court halted an appeals court's ruling reinstating a GOP-friendly congressional map in Missouri, clearing the way for the map from the 2022 and 2024 elections to be used for the November election and likely preventing any House pickups for the Republican Party in the state.” — Washington Examiner
Questions readers ask
What did the Supreme Court decide about Missouri's congressional map?
The Supreme Court ruled that Missouri must use its 2022 congressional map for the 2026 midterm elections, rejecting a Republican-drawn 2025 map for the third time in this litigation.
Why does the Missouri map ruling matter?
The rejected map was designed to give Republicans a 7-1 advantage in Missouri's House districts, according to Politico, and the Washington Examiner said the ruling likely prevents Republican House pickups in the state for this election.
Was the map connected to President Trump?
Yes, multiple outlets, including the Associated Press, HuffPost and The Washington Times, described the rejected map as backed by President Trump.
How did coverage differ across the political spectrum?
Left-leaning outlets like Mother Jones and Politico framed the ruling as a defeat for a Republican or 'MAGA' gerrymander, while right-leaning outlets such as Fox News and the Washington Examiner focused on the procedural outcome of restoring the 2022 map and its practical effect on Republican prospects.
What happens next in Missouri's redistricting fight?
According to The Washington Post, the ruling ends the legal fight over the map for the current election cycle, with the state now required to use its 2022 congressional lines for the November midterms.
Sources · 30 outlet reports
- Associated PressLeft-leaningSupreme Court rejects a Trump-backed Missouri congressional map for the third time
- BloombergLeft-leaningSupreme Court Rejects Missouri’s Republican-Drawn Voting Map
- CBS NewsLeft-leaningSupreme Court again blocks Missouri's new congressional map drawn to give Republicans an edge
- CNNLeft-leaningSupreme Court rejects GOP’s third effort to capture Democratic House seat in Missouri
- Common DreamsLeft-leaningIn Win for Missouri Voters, Supreme Court Smacks Down GOP's Rigged Map a Third Time
- HuffPostLeft-leaningSupreme Court Rejects A Trump-Backed Missouri Congressional Map For The Third Time
- Los Angeles TimesLeft-leaningFor third time, Supreme Court rejects Missouri’s bid for another GOP-leaning House district
- Mother JonesLeft-leaningSCOTUS Smacks Down MAGA Map of Missouri
- NBC NewsLeft-leaningSupreme Court rejects Republicans’ Missouri redistricting push for third time
- NPRLeft-leaningSupreme Court blocks Trump-backed Missouri congressional map
- PBS NewsHourLeft-leaningSupreme Court rejects Trump-backed Missouri congressional map for third time
- PoliticoLeft-leaningSupreme Court again snubs GOP gerrymander in Missouri
- The GuardianLeft-leaningSupreme court blocks Trump-backed Missouri congressional map from use in midterms
- The New York TimesLeft-leaningSupreme Court Once Again Blocks Republican-Backed Voting Map in Missouri
- The Washington PostLeft-leaningSupreme Court blocks Missouri congressional map favoring GOP for third time
- CNBCCenterSupreme Court bars Republican-drawn map in Missouri for third time
- NewsweekCenterSupreme Court Rejects GOP Missouri Map a Third Time Over ‘Chaos’ Concerns
- The HillCenterSupreme Court blocks use of GOP-favored map in Missouri — again
- UPICenterSupreme Court rejects Missouri GOP's redistricting try for third time
- Fox NewsRight-leaningSupreme Court blocks Missouri from using new congressional map in 2026 election
- Independent Journal ReviewRight-leaningSupreme Court Keeps Missouri’s 2022 Map for Midterms
- Just the NewsRight-leaningSupreme Court rejects Republican redistricting push in Missouri for the third time
- RedStateRight-leaningBreaking: SCOTUS Blocks 8th Circuit's Missouri Map Ruling: 'This Was Error'
- The Daily SignalRight-leaningHigh Court Rejects Missouri Congressional Map in Blow to GOP House Hopes
- The Epoch TimesRight-leaningSupreme Court Again Rejects Missouri Congressional Map Backed by Republicans
- The FederalistRight-leaningSCOTUS Issues Final Order Blocking Missouri’s GOP-Backed Map For Midterms
- The Washington TimesRight-leaningSupreme Court rejects a Trump-backed Missouri congressional map for the third time
- The Western JournalRight-leaningBreaking: SCOTUS Strikes Down GOP-Favored Map Revived Just 4 Days Ago
- TownhallRight-leaningSCOTUS Blocks Missouri's GOP-Favored Map, Reinstates 2022 Lines for Midterms
- Washington ExaminerRight-leaningSupreme Court shuts down legal mess over Missouri’s congressional map