Missouri attorney general asks Supreme Court to restore Trump-backed congressional map
Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway filed an emergency U.S. Supreme Court appeal to let the state's new congressional map be used in November after the Missouri Supreme Court blocked it pending a voter referendum. President Trump backed the map. Fox News reported Justice Brett Kavanaugh set a Monday response deadline.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway on Friday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to let the state's new congressional map proceed for November after the Missouri Supreme Court blocked it, Fox News reported.
The map was backed by President Donald Trump and Republican leaders and was designed to strengthen the party's chance to hold a slim U.S. House majority. Hanaway filed an emergency appeal seeking an immediate halt to the state high court's ruling. "We have just appealed yesterday's catastrophic ruling to the Supreme Court of the United States," she said in a statement, arguing that timely and lawful congressional elections hang in the balance.
On Thursday the Missouri Supreme Court said a referendum petition with more than 300,000 signatures kept the new districts from taking effect unless voters approve them in November. The court said the map used after the 2020 census remains in force for the general election unless voters uphold the newer lines. The new districts were used in last month's primaries. Five of the seven state justices were appointed by Republican governors.
Republican Secretary of State Denny Hoskins had rejected the referendum petition on primary Election Day, saying the state constitution does not allow referendum petitions on congressional redistricting. A lower court sided with Hoskins. The state Supreme Court reversed him and called the petition legal, sufficient and timely.
State law sets a Tuesday deadline for November ballot changes. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who handles emergency matters from the region, asked opponents of the new map to respond by Monday. He can act alone or refer the dispute to the full court.
President Trump called the state ruling a dark day for Missouri elections after the block. Hanaway said she knows of no other court that ordered a post-primary, pre-general switch of congressional maps in this way. The emergency filing puts the midterm calendar in federal hands for now.
Go Deeper
Who filed the appeal?
Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway, seeking emergency U.S. Supreme Court relief.
What did the Missouri Supreme Court decide?
That the new map cannot be used in November unless voters approve it, and that the prior post-2020 map remains in effect for now.
Was the new map used already?
Yes. It was used in the August primaries before the state high court blocked it for the general election.
What is the near-term deadline?
State law sets a Tuesday deadline for November ballot changes. Justice Kavanaugh asked for responses by Monday.
Why does this matter nationally?
One Missouri House seat could affect the slim Republican majority President Trump and GOP leaders are working to keep.
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