Judge Revives Missouri HB 1 Map for Nov. 3 Election, Overriding State Court for 14 Days
Updated
Updated · Democracy Docket · Sep 8
Judge Revives Missouri HB 1 Map for Nov. 3 Election, Overriding State Court for 14 Days
3 articles · Updated · Democracy Docket · Sep 8
Summary
A 14-day temporary restraining order from Chief U.S. District Judge Stephen Clark requires Missouri to run its Nov. 3 congressional election under the GOP-drawn HB 1 map.
Clark said changing districts after the Aug. 4 primary likely violates Article I and equal-protection guarantees by nullifying some primary votes and treating voters and candidates unequally.
Brett Kavanaugh had denied Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins’ emergency bid to restore HB 1, but Clark granted similar relief in a separate suit brought Friday by Republican candidates.
Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway said the state will comply as ballot-finalization deadlines hit, even though the Missouri Supreme Court ruled last week that HB 1 never legally took effect after a valid referendum petition.
The clash leaves Missouri with a rare split: the state’s highest court says the 2022 map is the only lawful one, while a federal judge has barred officials from using it in November.