The Missouri Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the state’s redrawn congressional map cannot be used in this year’s midterm elections, dealing a major blow to Republicans.

The court ruled that a referendum that will determine whether the state can use the map going forward must appear on the November ballot, meaning Missouri’s fall elections will take place under its previohttps://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/missouri-supreme-court-rules-gop-drawn-map-cant-used-november-election-rcna595688us district lines.

The new map was designed to draw one of the two Missouri Democrats in Congress, longtime Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, out of his seat.

The ruling comes after a protracted battle between advocacy group People Not Politicians Missouri, who sought to block the Republican redistricting effort, and the state GOP leaders who defended it.

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