Missouri courts clash over congressional maps for 2026 election

Missouri's courts have given election officials two different maps to use for November's congressional elections. Voters already chose their candidates in August under new district boundaries. But the Missouri Supreme Court ruled that a public vote on those new boundaries must happen first. That ruling means the new map cannot take effect until 2027. A federal judge then said Missouri must use the new map anyway, because switching maps between the primary and general election raises constitutional problems. The two rulings directly contradict each other. Justice Brett Kavanaugh rejected Missouri's request to keep the new map. A group called People Not Politicians has appealed to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals.