JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – Facing the threat of contempt of court, Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins backed down Thursday from his push to enforce the controversial ‘Missouri First’ congressional map that President Donald Trump and Republicans hoped could help them win an additional seat in the midterms.
But just hours later, a federal appeals court opened the door for another legal fight.
The 8th Circuit Court fast-tracked the legal battle Thursday afternoon, ordering an emergency hearing for Sept. 17 that puts the fate of Missouri’s election boundaries right back into question. The hearing set aside 10 minutes for an oral argument from Hoskins.
Shortly after Hoskins’ appearance in court, Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe made comments via social media and to KCTV5 that brought into question whether Hoskins has truly abandoned support of HB 1.
“When [Hoskins] made that communication to clerks, he was unaware that the 8th Circuit was going to take the action that they did,” Kehoe said. “Now that the 8th Circuit has taken the action, I think that will end up playing out, and I will let Secretary Hoskins communicate with the clerk community on what that means they should or should not do.
“I think that’s the fairest.”
On social media, Kehoe said he felt the reasoning behind a contempt hearing Thursday for Hoskins remain questionable and “I am proud to stand behind Secretary Hoskins as he continues to serve as Missouri’s top elections authority.”
Kehoe also said he stands by the 2025 map as the fairest map to use in November following the August primary.
Officials with People Not Politicians — an organization that has staunchly defended the 2022 congressional map and advocated for voters’ ability to weigh in on which map is used in the future — said they will file another brief with the 8th Circuit and continue defending their position to the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary.
Missouri House Speaker Jon Patterson, a Lee’s Summit Republican who advocated for the new map in the legislature, said the matter should be put to rest now.
“I really do think it’s time to put this to an end and print the ballots and go vote,” Patterson said.
Asked about the concern that voting under the 2022 map would have some voters seeing different candidates on their general election ballot than they did on their primary ballot, Patterson said he is that voter.
“I am going to get to go to the polls like everybody else and vote for a Congressperson. It just won’t be the person I voted for in the primary,” Patterson said.
UMKC professor weighs in
UMKC Professor of Law Allen Rostron told KCTV the 8th Circuit’s decision to fast-track the case keeps the legal fight alive, giving attorneys another chance to challenge the Missouri Supreme Court’s decision on constitutional grounds.
Even if the federal appeals court were to rule in favor of the ‘Missouri First’ map after next Thursday’s hearing, Rostron expects the fight to go right back to the U.S. Supreme Court for a third time.
Still, he doesn’t think a third time would be the charm for Kehoe, Hoskins and Hanaway’s preferred outcome.
“I don’t think anything would,” Rostron said. “I think the 8th Circuit will rule the same way they already did and then I think the U.S. Supreme Court will rule the same way they already did two times before.
“It’s sort of like anything. If you ask once and you’re told no and you ask again and they’re told no, but you think, well, I’ll just ask again. Maybe they’ve changed their mind or it’ll be different somehow, but there’s no real reason to think that.”
KCTV5 has reached out to Secretary of State Denny Hoskins to see whether he will participate in the oral arguments on Sept. 17. Once a response is shared, we will update this story.
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