State Sen. Rick Brattin says a recent federal appeals court ruling validates the arguments he and Congressman Bob Onder made in their challenge to Missouri’s congressional maps.
Both Republicans are part a federal lawsuit challenging the use of Missouri’s 2022 congressional map, Brattin told Missourinet he was encouraged by Monday’s ruling from the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The appeals court ruled Missouri should use the 2025 congressional map in the November election, although that decision is temporarily on hold while the U.S. Supreme Court considers another emergency appeal.
Brattin said the appeals court addressed the substance of the lawsuit and reached the conclusion he and other plaintiffs had sought.
“Very pleased after they heard the merits of the case that they ruled it the way they did and basically sided with us on every tenet of our lawsuit and very hopeful that the Supreme Court, I know they want responses today and hopefully things continue to go our way,” Brattin said.
The dispute centers on whether Missouri should use the congressional map approved by the Legislature in 2025 or continue using the 2022 map for the November election. Opponents of the 2025 map argue it should not be used because of legal and procedural challenges that remain unresolved.
The 2025 map substantially reshapes the Kansas City-based 5th Congressional District represented by Democratic Congressman Emanuel Cleaver. Supporters say the map reflects the Legislature’s authority to draw congressional districts, while critics argue it divides Kansas City among multiple districts and makes the seat significantly more favorable to Republican candidates.
Brattin, who is running for Congress, said the uncertainty surrounding the litigation has complicated his campaign and left candidates’ unsure which voters they will ultimately represent.
“I’m on the ballot, so I mean, I’ll continue on. What a way the government has put their thumb on the scale to completely disenfranchise the votes of the people. But what they’ve done to, like my campaign, is completely just paralyzed it. I’m just really angry at the fact that they changed the entire game in the middle of the game,” Brattin said.
As the case heads back to the nation’s highest court, Brattin said he hopes the justices focus on the underlying legal arguments rather than procedural questions that have dominated earlier rulings.
“What a lot of misinformation out there on the past rulings, those have been more procedural versus the merits of what occurred in the ruling from the Missouri Supreme Court. And that’s why we feel good about what the 8th did, because they ruled on the merits and hopefully the Supreme Court will follow suit,” Brattin said.
The latest appeal asks the U.S. Supreme Court to keep Missouri’s 2022 map in place for November. Responses are due today (Wednesday), while the 8th Circuit’s ruling remains on hold until Sept. 28.
Copyright © 2026 · Missourinet