- Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins has been ordered to appear before the Missouri Supreme Court for contempt proceedings on Thursday afternoon.
- The Missouri Supreme Court ruled that the 2025 congressional map never legally went into effect due to a sufficient referendum petition.
- Hoskins directed county clerks to use the 2025 map for the November ballot, defying the Missouri Supreme Court's ruling.
- The U.S. Supreme Court granted an emergency stay, sending the state back to the 2022 congressional map.
- Following the stay, Hoskins issued a statement directing local election authorities to use the 2022 map.
- The Missouri Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing for all parties at 2 p.m. on Thursday.
- Missouri Attorney General's Office argued on Hoskins' behalf that the federal judge's ruling supersedes the Missouri Supreme Court's ruling.
- People Not Politicians appealed the federal judge's ruling to the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which left the judge's ruling in place.
- Missouri lawmakers have threatened impeachment proceedings against members of the Missouri Supreme Court if Hoskins is held in contempt.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins faces contempt proceedings after directing election officials to use the 2025 congressional map for the November election, despite a Missouri Supreme Court ruling that the map is not legally effective.12
The court's unanimous decision, written by Judge Ginger K. Gooch, stated that the 2025 map could not be used because the political campaign committee People Not Politicians Missouri filed a sufficient referendum petition before the map's effective date.8
On Tuesday, Hoskins instructed county clerks to prepare ballots using the 2025 map, which is seen as a move to secure an additional Republican seat in the U.S. House.
If the court finds Hoskins in contempt, he could face a fine or jail time. The Missouri Attorney General's Office argued that a federal judge's ruling supersedes the state Supreme Court's decision, making it unenforceable.7
Meanwhile, the U.S. Supreme Court granted an emergency stay, reinstating the 2022 congressional map as the only governing order. Following this, Hoskins stated, "Following the United States Supreme Court’s stay, the only governing court order in effect is from the Missouri Supreme Court. In accordance with that order, my Office is directing local election authorities to use the 2022 congressional map."46
Tensions are rising as a group of Missouri lawmakers has threatened impeachment proceedings against members of the Missouri Supreme Court if Hoskins is held in contempt, arguing he should not be punished for following a federal court order.9
“The contempt case stems from Hoskins' directive to use the 2025 congressional map, which the state Supreme Court ruled never legally took effect. The U.S. Supreme Court's emergency stay Thursday morning sent the state back to the 2022 map, prompting Hoskins to comply.”
KMBC
