The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Sept. 29, 2026
Written & Produced by:
September 28, 2026 12:19 pmWASHINGTON, DC — For the third time, the U.S. Supreme Court has blocked a gerrymandered Missouri congressional map from being used in the 2026 general election. The September 25th decision ends, at least until after the midterms, state-sponsored GOP efforts to eliminate a long-held Democratic seat in Kansas City.
The decision ends a year of wrangling over a November citizen ballot initiative to roll back the Trump-inspired 2025 map designed to gain one additional GOP congressional seat by diluting Black voting power. It splits Kansas City’s 5th Congressional District, currently held by 11-term Democrat Emmanuel Cleaver.
People Not Politicians Missouri gathered over 300,000 signatures for a ballot initiative to overturn House Bill 1, creating the gerrymandered 2025 map. But Secretary of State Denny Hoskins delayed its verification for months, then declared it unconstitutional. A unanimous decision by the Missouri Supreme Court overturned Hoskins’ decision and restored the 2022 maps for the midterm. Three appeals to the U.S. Supreme Court later, the 2025 map was blocked and the 2022 maps will be used in November.
The win may only be temporary. People Not Politicians is pushing a No vote for Proposition A, which would permanently overturn House Bill 1. But if Yes votes win, the gerrymandered 2025 map likely returns.
We’ve linked to the decision and the case’s twists and turns at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources
U.S. Supreme Court – PEOPLE NOT POLITICIANS, ET AL. v. ROBERT ONDER, ET AL.
SCOTUSblog – For the third time, Supreme Court declines to allow Missouri to use congressional map expected to aid Republicans
Missouri Independent – US Supreme Court again blocks Missouri’s gerrymandered congressional map
BallotPedia – Missouri Proposition A, Congressional Map Referendum (2026)
People Not Politicians MO – FAQs on Proposition A
Related ADM Reports:
American Democracy Minute – Missouri Supreme Court Rules Pro-Voter Redistricting Ballot Measure Must Be Added to the Ballot; Secretary of State Appeals to U.S. Supreme Court
American Democracy Minute – Missouri SOS Still Apparently Scheming to Derail November Ballot Initiative to Overturn New Gerrymandered Congressional Map Splitting Kansas City
Groups Taking Action:
Register or Check Your Voter Registration:
U.S. Election Assistance Commission – How to Register And Vote in Your State
Please follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Bluesky Social, and SHARE!
Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org
Subscribe for FREE at Apple Podcasts, Spotify and most podcasting platforms.
Are you a radio station? Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network’s Audioport and PRX
#News #Democracy #DemocracyNews #PeopleNotPoliticiansMO #USSupremeCourt #Missouri #CongressionalMap #RacialGerrymandering #KansasCity