Missouri Secretary of State

The U.S. Supreme Court has halted a temporary restraining order issued this week that only allowed Secretary of State Denny Hoskins to use a Trump-backed map lawmakers drew in 2025.

The GOP statewide official is slated to face contempt charges for violating a Missouri Supreme Court order not to use a Trump-backed congressional map from 2025.

Boone County Clerk Brianna Lennon said she can't make a decision yet on which maps to use, or she risks the same sort of contempt hearing Secretary of State Denny Hoskins currently faces.

U.S. District Judge Stephen Clark's last-minute order temporarily prevents Secretary of State Denny Hoskins from using any map other than the one passed in 2025 — a move that will almost certainly be appealed.

Secretary of State Denny Hoskins is appealing the order to use the same congressional maps as 2024 to the U.S. Supreme Court. State law sets Tuesday as the deadline for changes to the Nov. 3 ballot.

The Missouri Supreme Court's ruling means the congressional map from 2022 will be in place for the November general election, giving longtime Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II a stronger chance to keep his seat.

Secretary of State Denny Hoskins said he would not stop election officials from placing a referendum on the ballot — or running the Nov. 3 election on an older congressional map. He tried, but failed, to get the Missouri Supreme Court to stay its ruling on Friday.

The Missouri Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday on a trio of cases on referendums, including whether residents can vote on a congressional map. If it allows the measure to move forward for November, it could put in jeopardy Republicans’ plan to push out Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II.

The state's highest court will hear arguments over two consequential initiatives on Sept. 2, just days before the deadline to finalize the November ballot. A circuit court judge ruled both proposals were unconstitutional.

Delivering his decision just a few hours after conducting a trial, Cole County Circuit Judge Daniel Green ruled that the Missouri Constitution does not allow referendums on congressional redistricting. However, the Missouri Supreme Court will likely be the final say in the case.

Secretary of State Denny Hoskins had blocked the Respect Missouri Voters initiative, saying it had too many subjects and constrained the legislature's power. A Cole County judge agreed, keeping the measure off the November ballot.

Earlier this month, Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins rejected a proposed referendum on the congressional redistricting map state lawmakers passed last year.