7th Circuit clears Missouri GOP map, eliminating Democratic House seat

The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday issued a ruling that could allow Missouri’s Republican‑led legislature to use a new congressional map in the November election. The map, drafted in 2021, would eliminate one of the state’s two Democratic House districts. The decision follows a long legal battle that began after the 2020 election when the map was challenged for violating the Voting Rights Act.

The map was drawn by a Republican‑controlled Missouri legislature that won control of the state house in 2018. It was designed to split the city of St. Louis, a Democratic stronghold, into two districts. In 2021, a federal judge struck down the map, saying it diluted the voting power of Black residents. Republicans appealed, arguing that the map did not violate federal law and that voters should decide the issue in an election.

In its latest ruling, the appeals court said there was no evidence that the map was created to discriminate against any racial group. The court also noted that the map could be used in the upcoming election if the state decides to adopt it. The case is still pending, and the next step could involve the Supreme Court if the parties cannot reach a settlement. Missouri officials now face a tight deadline to decide whether to adopt the new map or keep the existing one.

The outcome matters because it could shape the balance of power in Missouri’s U.S. House delegation. If the GOP map is used, it would make one seat more competitive for Democrats, potentially affecting national party control. Voters in the affected districts will have to decide in November whether the new boundaries are fair. The decision also signals how courts are handling state‑level redistricting disputes that have national implications.