The 8th US Circuit Court of Appeals ordered Missouri to use a congressional map that favors Republicans in the upcoming November midterms, prompting a new legal challenge from redistricting opponents. The US Supreme Court is reviewing the dispute for the third time this month to determine if a previous stay blocks the use of the 2025 map, which provides a 7R-1D seat split. This legal instability comes as state officials have already begun distributing mail-in ballots for the 2026 election.

The 8th Circuit held that returning to a 2022 map after August primaries were conducted under the 2025 plan would violate the Constitution by denying voters their chosen nominees. While a district judge entered a permanent injunction to enforce the GOP-drawn map, it remains stayed until Sept. 28 at 5 p.m. CT. Justice Kavanaugh has requested a response from supporters of the map by 2 p.m. ET on Sept. 23.