Missouri Republicans dragged out the battle over their gerrymander. Now they’re trying to blame the state’s top court - Democracy Docket

Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins (R) deliberately dragged out making a decision on whether the new map is subject to a referendum so the state could use the gerrymandered districts for the August primary.

But now GOP candidates and state officials are trying to blame the state’s top court for striking the map down, forcing the state to switch maps before the general election.

“Missouri’s goal throughout this litigation has been to run an orderly and fair congressional election. However, the Missouri Supreme Court’s September 3, 2026 order—changing Missouri’s congressional map one month after the Primary Election—virtually guaranteed that would be impossible,” lawyers for Missouri’s attorney general wrote in their brief to the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday.

“Ever since that ruling, Missouri has suffered substantial election-related chaos,” they added.

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