A federal appeals court ordered the state of Missouri to maintain its most recent redistricting plan for the upcoming general election to avoid violating the U.S. Constitution. The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that switching to 2022 lines after August primaries were run on the 7R-1D plan would deprive voters of their right to select nominees under Article I, Section 2. A federal judge issued a permanent injunction to enforce the 2025 map following the appellate ruling.

The legal mandate is paused until Sept 28 at 5 p.m. CT to allow for U.S. Supreme Court review. Judge Stras dissented in part, arguing that the intervenors lacked standing to appeal because their referendum remains on the ballot. The court did not resolve whether the state's referendum process can suspend redistricting laws and declined to rule on Equal Protection or Elections Clause claims.