A Missouri judge ruled Wednesday that the state’s newly drawn congressional districts will remain in effect for the November election, rejecting an attempt to force a referendum on the redistricting plan.
Cole County Circuit Judge Daniel Green sided with Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins, finding that Hoskins acted within the law when he declined to certify a referendum petition challenging the new congressional boundaries.
In his ruling, Green wrote that the secretary of state’s decision not to certify the petition was lawful and that the redistricting legislation, known as HB 1, would remain in effect for the 2026 general election.
A key part of Green’s decision centered on the fact that Missouri had already conducted its primary elections using the new congressional map. He concluded that switching to a different set of district boundaries after the primaries would conflict with federal election law and could interfere with voters’ rights.
Green wrote that the relief requested by the plaintiffs would violate the right of Missouri voters to have their ballots counted. He also said federal law prevented the court from ordering the state to use a congressional map different from the one used during the 2026 primary elections.
Supporters of the referendum had pointed to the Missouri Constitution, which gives voters broad authority to challenge actions taken by the state Legislature through the referendum process.
Green, however, found that the issue was more complicated when it came to congressional redistricting. His ruling said the state and federal constitutions separately assign congressional redistricting authority to the General Assembly, raising questions about whether the referendum process could be used to overturn those district lines.
The petition challenging the map had reportedly collected the required number of signatures. Green nevertheless accepted the argument that the measure’s underlying purpose was constitutionally invalid.
Republicans welcomed the ruling.
Republican National Committee Chairman Joe Gruters called the decision a victory for Missouri voters and election integrity. He said the congressional boundaries had been enacted by the Legislature, survived a court challenge and were already used during the primary election.
Attorneys representing Republican organizations had also argued that changing the map this late in the election cycle would create confusion.
John Gore, representing the RNC, the National Republican Congressional Committee and the Missouri Republican State Committee, warned during the case that ordering the state to change maps after the primaries could undermine public confidence in the election process.
The political stakes are significant because Missouri’s congressional delegation currently includes six Republicans and two Democrats.
The new map was drawn with the goal of making an additional district more favorable to Republicans, potentially giving the party an opportunity to win seven of the state’s eight U.S. House seats.
That makes the ruling especially consequential as both parties fight for control of the House in the 2026 midterm elections.