{"id":2656536,"date":"2026-09-09T08:31:59","date_gmt":"2026-09-09T12:31:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/utm_sourcerssutm_mediumrssutm_campaignfederal-judge-reinstates-missouris-new-election-map-after-kavanaugh-declines-to-get-involved\/"},"modified":"2026-09-09T08:38:05","modified_gmt":"2026-09-09T12:38:05","slug":"utm_sourcerssutm_mediumrssutm_campaignfederal-judge-reinstates-missouris-new-election-map-after-kavanaugh-declines-to-get-involved","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/utm_sourcerssutm_mediumrssutm_campaignfederal-judge-reinstates-missouris-new-election-map-after-kavanaugh-declines-to-get-involved\/","title":{"rendered":"Judge Restores Missouri&#8217;s New Congressional Map For Midterms"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Futm_sourcerssutm_mediumrssutm_campaignfederal-judge-reinstates-missouris-new-election-map-after-kavanaugh-declines-to-get-involved%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2656536&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A federal district judge reinstated Missouri\u2019s GOP-favored congressional map for the 2026 midterms shortly after Supreme court Justice Brett Kavanaugh declined an emergency request to do so. Missouri officials stated they would comply with the order, which requires using the Missouri FIRST map in the upcoming election. The new map, approved by the Missouri Legislature adn GOP Governor Mike Kehoe, shifts the state from a 6-2 Republican-Democrat split to a 7-1 split. Despite efforts to place a referendum on the ballot, the Missouri Supreme Court blocked the new map from being used in the midterms, ruling that the state constitution permits a referendum on legislative acts. Missouri\u2019s Secretary of State rejected the petition, but the court upheld its validity, leading to a dispute over the map\u2019s implementation. The state filed an emergency submission with the U.S. Supreme Court to stay the ruling, arguing it would cause confusion and disenfranchise voters, especially sence primaries have already been held under the new map. Kavanaugh denied the stay without description, citing the importance of maintaining election stability. Together, a temporary restraining order was issued by Chief Judge Stephen Clark to prevent the use of any map other than the 2025 one for the November election, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/third-dan-sullivan-wades-into-alaska-senate-race-with-endorsement\/\" title=\"Third Dan Sullivan wades into Alaska Senate race with endorsement\">citing potential voter confusion<\/a>. This order is on appeal, creating a complex legal and electoral situation in Missouri as courts navigate the dispute over redistricting just weeks before the election.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"article-body body-md bdr-top-black pt-30\">\n<div class=\"row justify-content-center\">\n<div class=\"col-12\">\n<figure class=\"article-thumbnail mb-30 mb-sm-60\">\n<div class=\"article-thumbnail-caption d-flex align-items-center justify-content-md-end label-xs mt-15\">         <i class=\"mdi mdi-camera me-10\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>         <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Image Credit<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=0ccWSkl7k1g\">CIT\/YouTube<\/a>       <\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"article-share text-center article-share-simple\">\n<h5 class=\"label-sm mb-10\">Share<\/h5>\n<ul class=\"article-share-list list-unstyled m-0 p-0\">\n<li class=\"article-share-facebook m-0\">       <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2026\/09\/09\/federal-judge-reinstates-missouris-new-election-map-after-kavanaugh-declines-to-get-involved\/\" target=\"_blank\">         <i class=\"mdi mdi-facebook\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>         <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Share Article on Facebook<\/span>       <\/a>     <\/li>\n<li class=\"article-share-twitter m-0\">       <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=Federal Judge Reinstates Missouri\u2019s New Election Map After Kavanaugh Declines To Get Involved&#038;url=https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2026\/09\/09\/federal-judge-reinstates-missouris-new-election-map-after-kavanaugh-declines-to-get-involved\/\" target=\"_blank\">         <i class=\"mdi mdi-twitter\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>         <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Share Article on Twitter<\/span>       <\/a>     <\/li>\n<li class=\"article-share-truth-social m-0\">       <a href=\"https:\/\/truthsocial.com\/share?title=Federal Judge Reinstates Missouri\u2019s New Election Map After Kavanaugh Declines To Get Involved&#038;url=https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2026\/09\/09\/federal-judge-reinstates-missouris-new-election-map-after-kavanaugh-declines-to-get-involved\/\" target=\"_blank\">         <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" fill=\"currentColor\" style=\"width:36px;height:auto;\" viewbox=\"0 0 92 93\"><path d=\"M69.444 55.716H56.772v10.37h12.672zM64.487 37.795V27.32H38.666v38.664h13.18v-28.19zM21.05 27.321h12.653v10.471H21.051z\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/><\/svg>         <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Share Article on Truth Social<\/span>       <\/a>     <\/li>\n<li class=\"article-share-link m-0\">       <button data-clipboard-text=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2026\/09\/09\/federal-judge-reinstates-missouris-new-election-map-after-kavanaugh-declines-to-get-involved\/\" data-tooltip-content=\"Copied!\" class=\"clip tooltip\">         <i class=\"mdi mdi-link-variant\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>         <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Copy Article Link<\/span>       <\/button>     <\/li>\n<li class=\"article-share-email m-0\">       <a href=\"mailto:?subject=Federal Judge Reinstates Missouri\u2019s New Election Map After Kavanaugh Declines To Get Involved&#038;body=%20https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2026\/09\/09\/federal-judge-reinstates-missouris-new-election-map-after-kavanaugh-declines-to-get-involved\/\" target=\"_blank\">         <i class=\"mdi mdi-email\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>         <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Share Article via Email<\/span>       <\/a>     <\/li>\n<li class=\"article-share-email m-0\"><span class=\"printfriendly pf-button  pf-alignleft\">                     <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/thefederalist.com\/#\" rel=\"nofollow\" onclick=\"window.print(); pfTrackEvent(&#039;Federal Judge Reinstates Missouri\u2019s New Election Map After Kavanaugh Declines To Get Involved&#039;); return false;\" title=\"Printer Friendly, PDF &#038; Email\">                     <span id=\"printfriendly-text2\" class=\"pf-button-text\"><i class=\"mdi mdi-printer\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/span>                     <\/a>                 <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<div class=\"pf-content\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A federal district judge reinstated Missouri\u2019s GOP-friendly congressional map for the 2026 midterms on Tuesday. The ruling came moments after Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh rejected an emergency request to do so in a separate case on the issue.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMissouri is prepared to follow and comply with Chief Judge Clark\u2019s order that binds the state to using the Missouri FIRST map for the November General Election,\u201d Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway said in a <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/AGCHanaway\/status\/2097458097178706042?s=20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">statement<\/a>. \u201cWe maintain that changing the congressional map in between the primary and general elections is simply not feasible and profoundly unjust to Missouri voters.\u201d<\/p>\n<div id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-3646673090\" class=\"d-flex justify-content-center fdrlst__b89e9-paragraph-2 fdrlst__b89e9-entity-placement\">\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-1463670073398-0\" class=\"mb-30\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Missouri Legislature and GOP Gov. Mike Kehoe <a href=\"https:\/\/www.scotusblog.com\/2026\/09\/missouri-urges-supreme-court-to-allow-for-use-of-congressional-map-expected-to-aid-republicans\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">approved<\/a> the new map in question in September 2025. If permitted to go into effect, it would move the state from a six Republican-two Democrat map to a seven Republican-one Democrat map.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A group of activists submitted signatures in support of a petition later that year to place a statewide referendum for the new maps on the state\u2019s 2026 fall ballot. Republican Secretary of State Denny Hoskins rejected the petition last month, arguing that the state constitution \u201cdoes not authorize a referendum on congressional redistricting plans passed by the General Assembly.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Missouri Supreme Court disagreed in its ruling last week, in which it <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/missouri-high-court-blocks-gop-backed-congressional-maps-ahead-midterms-trump-blasts-ridiculous-ruling\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">blocked<\/a> the new map from being used in the upcoming midterm elections. The state court held that \u201cthe plain language of \u2026 the Missouri Constitution authorizes a referendum as to \u2018any act of the general assembly\u2019 and no exception applies.\u201d It further ruled that the petition \u201cwas legal, sufficient, and timely.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With state ballots set to be <a href=\"https:\/\/www.kctv5.com\/2026\/09\/08\/missouri-ballot-deadline-arrives-with-congressional-map-still-undecided\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">finalized<\/a> on Monday, Hoskins and Missouri filed an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.supremecourt.gov\/DocketPDF\/26\/26A304\/423214\/20260904224734853_1-Hoskins%20v.%20von%20Glahn%20-%20Application%20for%20Stay%20FINAL.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">emergency application<\/a> with the U.S. Supreme Court this past Friday requesting that the decision be paused. The Show Me State officials noted how the state primaries have already been held under the new congressional map, and that the Missouri Supreme Court\u2019s ruling \u201cundoubtedly will require the winners of the Primary Election to run in dramatically different districts for the General Election.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cLooking backwards, the order renders a completed federal Primary Election utterly pointless \u2014 disenfranchising hundreds of thousands of voters who will now be moved into new districts and forced to vote for candidates they had no role in selecting. Looking forwards, the State is genuinely unsure whether it can switch its governing congressional map in time to run a timely federal election,\u201d the application reads. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a Monday <a href=\"https:\/\/www.supremecourt.gov\/search.aspx?filename=\/docket\/DocketFiles\/html\/Public\/26A304.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">order<\/a>, Kavanaugh \u2014 who oversees applications from the 8th Circuit (which includes Missouri) \u2014 denied the state\u2019s request to pause the ruling without explanation. The Trump appointee has previously <a href=\"https:\/\/www.supremecourt.gov\/opinions\/21pdf\/21a375_d18f.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">championed<\/a> the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.britannica.com\/topic\/Purcell-principle\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><em>Purcell<\/em> principle<\/a> in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.supremecourt.gov\/opinions\/20pdf\/20a66_new_m6io.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">past<\/a> Supreme Court <a href=\"https:\/\/www.supremecourt.gov\/opinions\/21pdf\/21a455_5if6.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">opinions<\/a>, which says that courts should <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/arizona-supreme-court-hands-recorder-heap-win-in-maricopa-elections-battle\/\" title=\"AZ ... Hands Heap Win In Maricopa ...s Battle\">avoid altering election rules<\/a> too close to an election. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It wasn\u2019t long after Kavanaugh\u2019s order came down that Missouri-based Chief Judge Stephen Clark <a href=\"https:\/\/fox2now.com\/news\/missouri\/federal-judge-temporarily-blocks-missouri-from-using-old-house-map-after-supreme-court-declined-case\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">issued<\/a> a temporary restraining order in a separate case involving a lawsuit brought by several Missouri congressional candidates. In his <a href=\"https:\/\/storage.courtlistener.com\/recap\/gov.uscourts.moed.231153\/gov.uscourts.moed.231153.35.0.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ruling<\/a>, Clark enjoined the state\u2019s election officials from \u201cimplementing, using, publishing, distributing, or mandating the use of any congressional district map other than the [new 2025] map for the November 3, 2026, general election.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cUsing a different map for the general election would wreak havoc on the fairness and orderliness of Missouri\u2019s congressional elections, calling into question the candidacy of those nominated in the primaries and the votes of those who voted in the primaries,\u201d Clark wrote. \u201cWidespread voter confusion would inevitably follow. The public interest factor thus weighs in favor of a TRO.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Clark\u2019s TRO is set to remain in effect for 14 days, with a preliminary injunction hearing set to be scheduled in a different order. As of Monday night, the order is \u201calready on appeal\u201d at the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/MarkMaxwellTV\/status\/2097462395459256361?s=20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">local media<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"> <span class=\"xlpP9qRUwDHz03BtHihCX2usOZjSnFNzZ44SGAhYvmo1De66sYJVQwIyXbujmtKf88TioT2W\"><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">This sets up a really interesting conundrum for Missouri. To recap, the Missouri Supreme Court struck down the 7-1 map. But the candidates went to both a federal district court and the Supreme Court to reinstate the 7-1 map. Justice Kavanaugh denied the request but Judge Clark\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/HWs7cB6bwE\">https:\/\/t.co\/HWs7cB6bwE<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Abhi Kambli (@AbhiKambli1984) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/AbhiKambli1984\/status\/2097455538451730702?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">September 8, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/span> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\">\n<div class=\"article-author-description fst-italic\">      Shawn Fleetwood is a staff writer for The Federalist and a graduate of the University of Mary Washington. He is a co-recipient of the 2025 Dao Prize for Excellence in Investigative Journalism. His work has been featured in numerous outlets, including RealClearPolitics and RealClearHealth. Follow him on Twitter @ShawnFleetwood<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"article-author mt-30 mt-sm-60 pt-30 bdr-top-bold-black\">\n<div class=\"row g-0 align-items-center\">\n<div class=\"col-12 col-md-6\">\n<div class=\"article-author-profile d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center justify-content-md-start\">\n<div class=\"article-author-details\">\n<div class=\"label-md\">Shawn Fleetwood<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-author-twitter label-sm d-flex align-items-center mt-10\">             <i class=\"mdi mdi-twitter me-5\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>             <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Visit on Twitter<\/span>            <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ShawnFleetwood\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"text-decoration-none\">@ShawnFleetwood<\/a>           <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"col-12 col-md-6 d-flex justify-content-center justify-content-md-end mt-15 mt-md-0\">        <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/author\/shawnfleetwood\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">More Articles<\/a>     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Missouri\u2019s GOP map reinstated for 2026 after court rulings<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":539,"featured_media":2656537,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Brett-Kavanaugh.png","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[58799,33740,34250,8584,16985],"class_list":["post-2656536","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-congressional-map","tag-court-ruling","tag-midterm-elections","tag-missouri","tag-redistricting"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Brett-Kavanaugh.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2656536","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/539"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2656536"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2656536\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2656540,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2656536\/revisions\/2656540"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2656537"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2656536"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2656536"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2656536"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}