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S. ____ (2026)", "paragraph_id": "para_3" }, { "text": "Per Curiam", "paragraph_id": "para_4" }, { "text": "SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES", "paragraph_id": "para_5" }, { "text": "No. 26A388", "paragraph_id": "para_6" }, { "text": "PEOPLE NOT POLITICIANS, ET AL. v. ROBERT", "paragraph_id": "para_7" }, { "text": "ONDER, ET AL.", "paragraph_id": "para_8" }, { "text": "ON APPLICATION FOR STAY", "paragraph_id": "para_9" }, { "text": "[September 25, 2026]", "paragraph_id": "para_10" }, { "text": "PER CURIAM.", "paragraph_id": "para_11" }, { "text": "In 2022, the Missouri Legislature enacted a redistricting", "paragraph_id": "para_12" }, { "text": "map for elections to the U. S. House of Representatives. In", "paragraph_id": "para_13" }, { "text": "2025, the Missouri Legislature enacted a new map. But", "paragraph_id": "para_14" }, { "text": "under the Missouri Constitution as interpreted by the", "paragraph_id": "para_15" }, { "text": "Supreme Court of Missouri, a new law such as the 2025", "paragraph_id": "para_16" }, { "text": "map does not take effect unless and until approved by", "paragraph_id": "para_17" }, { "text": "voters in a referendum in the next election—at least where,", "paragraph_id": "para_18" }, { "text": "as here, the number of voter signatures on the petition", "paragraph_id": "para_19" }, { "text": "suffices to trigger a referendum. Therefore, on September", "paragraph_id": "para_20" }, { "text": "3, 2026, the Missouri Supreme Court ruled that the 2025", "paragraph_id": "para_21" }, { "text": "redistricting map “is not the law and has never been the", "paragraph_id": "para_22" }, { "text": "law” in Missouri—and will not take effect unless and until", "paragraph_id": "para_23" }, { "text": "approved by Missouri voters by referendum in the 2026", "paragraph_id": "para_24" }, { "text": "election. von Glahn v. Hoskins, ___ S. W. 3d ___, ___–___,", "paragraph_id": "para_25" }, { "text": "n. 8 (Mo. 2026), App. to Emergency Motion 53–54a, n. 8.", "paragraph_id": "para_26" }, { "text": "In short, as a matter of state law, the 2022 map—not the", "paragraph_id": "para_27" }, { "text": "2025 map—must be used in the 2026 congressional", "paragraph_id": "para_28" }, { "text": "election.", "paragraph_id": "para_29" }, { "text": "In the wake of that recent Missouri Supreme Court", "paragraph_id": "para_30" }, { "text": "decision, a group of voters and candidates (collectively,", "paragraph_id": "para_31" }, { "text": "plaintiffs) sued in federal court. They contended that the", "paragraph_id": "para_32" }, { "text": "U. S. Constitution requires Missouri to use the 2025 map in", "paragraph_id": "para_33" }, { "text": "the 2026 election—even though the 2025 map cannot take", "paragraph_id": "para_34" }, { "text": "effect under Missouri law unless and until it is approved by", "paragraph_id": "para_35" }, { "text": "Missouri voters in the 2026 election.", "paragraph_id": "para_36" }, { "text": "2 PEOPLE NOT POLITICIANS v. ONDER", "paragraph_id": "para_37" }, { "text": "Per Curiam", "paragraph_id": "para_38" }, { "text": "In two orders in the last few weeks, this Court has denied", "paragraph_id": "para_39" }, { "text": "such relief. In the first, the Missouri Secretary of State", "paragraph_id": "para_40" }, { "text": "asked this Court to stay the September 3 decision of the", "paragraph_id": "para_41" }, { "text": "Missouri Supreme Court that had prohibited use of the", "paragraph_id": "para_42" }, { "text": "2025 map in the general election. On September 8, JUSTICE", "paragraph_id": "para_43" }, { "text": "KAVANAUGH, in his capacity as Circuit Justice for the", "paragraph_id": "para_44" }, { "text": "Eighth Circuit, denied that request, thereby leaving the", "paragraph_id": "para_45" }, { "text": "2022 map in effect for the 2026 general election. But that", "paragraph_id": "para_46" }, { "text": "same evening, a federal district court in Missouri issued a", "paragraph_id": "para_47" }, { "text": "temporary restraining order—in practical effect, an", "paragraph_id": "para_48" }, { "text": "injunction1—in effect requiring Missouri to use the 2025", "paragraph_id": "para_49" }, { "text": "map instead of the 2022 map, essentially ordering relief", "paragraph_id": "para_50" }, { "text": "that the Circuit Justice had just denied.", "paragraph_id": "para_51" }, { "text": "The District Court’s September 8 injunction was", "paragraph_id": "para_52" }, { "text": "promptly stayed by this Court on September 10, in an order", "paragraph_id": "para_53" }, { "text": "issued by the full Court without any noted dissent. That", "paragraph_id": "para_54" }, { "text": "stay remains in effect.", "paragraph_id": "para_55" }, { "text": "This Court’s September 10 stay order meant that the", "paragraph_id": "para_56" }, { "text": "2022 map would be used in the 2026 congressional election", "paragraph_id": "para_57" }, { "text": "in Missouri, absent further order of this Court. And the", "paragraph_id": "para_58" }, { "text": "election has now begun under the 2022 map. But on", "paragraph_id": "para_59" }, { "text": "September 21, 11 days after this Court’s most recent order,", "paragraph_id": "para_60" }, { "text": "the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit ordered", "paragraph_id": "para_61" }, { "text": "the District Court to enter a permanent injunction in effect", "paragraph_id": "para_62" }, { "text": "requiring use of the 2025 map instead of the 2022 map in", "paragraph_id": "para_63" }, { "text": "the 2026 election. Given this Court’s two prior orders in", "paragraph_id": "para_64" }, { "text": "this litigation, our conclusion that this was error should", "paragraph_id": "para_65" }, { "text": "come as no surprise.2", "paragraph_id": "para_66" }, { "text": "Consistent with this Court’s September 10 stay order, we", "paragraph_id": "para_67" }, { "text": "therefore must now stay the District Court’s new", "paragraph_id": "para_68" }, { "text": "——————", "paragraph_id": "para_69" }, { "text": "1 As the Eighth Circuit later noted, the District Court’s TRO was “in", "paragraph_id": "para_70" }, { "text": "practical effect a preliminary injunction.” Onder v. Missouri, ___ F. 4th", "paragraph_id": "para_71" }, { "text": "___, ___ (CA8, Sept. 21, 2026) (quotation marks omitted), App. to", "paragraph_id": "para_72" }, { "text": "Emergency Motion 12a.", "paragraph_id": "para_73" }, { "text": "2 We conclude that at least one of the applicants has standing on", "paragraph_id": "para_74" }, { "text": "appeal.", "paragraph_id": "para_75" }, { "text": "3Cite as: 609 U. S. ____ (2026)", "paragraph_id": "para_76" }, { "text": "Per Curiam", "paragraph_id": "para_77" }, { "text": "September 21 and September 22 injunctions3 and the", "paragraph_id": "para_78" }, { "text": "Eighth Circuit’s September 21 mandate and September 22", "paragraph_id": "para_79" }, { "text": "order.4", "paragraph_id": "para_80" }, { "text": "Even putting this Court’s prior orders aside, the", "paragraph_id": "para_81" }, { "text": "traditional stay factors also dictate that this Court stay", "paragraph_id": "para_82" }, { "text": "those District Court and Court of Appeals orders, just as", "paragraph_id": "para_83" }, { "text": "this Court stayed the District Court’s previous September", "paragraph_id": "para_84" }, { "text": "8 injunction. See Nken v. Holder, 556 U. S. 418, 425–426", "paragraph_id": "para_85" }, { "text": "(2009).", "paragraph_id": "para_86" }, { "text": "On the merits, the Court’s precedents have not previously", "paragraph_id": "para_87" }, { "text": "stated that Article I, Section 2 requires a state to use the", "paragraph_id": "para_88" }, { "text": "primary election map in a general election, and given that", "paragraph_id": "para_89" }, { "text": "the equities heavily favor staying this late-breaking", "paragraph_id": "para_90" }, { "text": "intervention, it suffices that the merits are not entirely", "paragraph_id": "para_91" }, { "text": "clearcut. Cf. Rodriguez v. Popular Democratic Party, 457", "paragraph_id": "para_92" }, { "text": "U. S. 1, 10, and n. 10 (1982). The equities dictate that we", "paragraph_id": "para_93" }, { "text": "stay the District Court’s September 21 and September 22", "paragraph_id": "para_94" }, { "text": "injunctions, as well as the Court of Appeals’ September 21", "paragraph_id": "para_95" }, { "text": "and September 22 orders. See Purcell v. Gonzalez, 549", "paragraph_id": "para_96" }, { "text": "U. S. 1 (2006) (per curiam). This Court has repeatedly", "paragraph_id": "para_97" }, { "text": "cautioned that “lower federal courts should not ‘alter the", "paragraph_id": "para_98" }, { "text": "election rules’ ” of a state “on the eve of an election.” Allen", "paragraph_id": "para_99" }, { "text": "v. Milligan, 608 U. S. 511, 514 (2026) (per curiam) (quoting", "paragraph_id": "para_100" }, { "text": "Republican National Committee v. Democratic National", "paragraph_id": "para_101" }, { "text": "Committee, 589 U. S. 423, 424 (2020) (per curiam)); see also", "paragraph_id": "para_102" }, { "text": "Purcell, 549 U. S., at 4–6.", "paragraph_id": "para_103" }, { "text": "The Purcell principle applies with even greater force", "paragraph_id": "para_104" }, { "text": "here. The election is not merely upcoming; it has already", "paragraph_id": "para_105" }, { "text": "started. Ballots using the 2022 map have been printed and", "paragraph_id": "para_106" }, { "text": "mailed. Absentee voting has already begun, as has military", "paragraph_id": "para_107" }, { "text": "and overseas voting. According to local election officials in", "paragraph_id": "para_108" }, { "text": "——————", "paragraph_id": "para_109" }, { "text": "3 The District Court amended the injunction on September 22, 2026.", "paragraph_id": "para_110" }, { "text": "Onder v. Missouri, No. 4:26–cv–01424 (ED Mo.), ECF Doc. 60.", "paragraph_id": "para_111" }, { "text": "4 On September 22, 2026, the Eighth Circuit issued an order denying", "paragraph_id": "para_112" }, { "text": "applicants’ motion to recall the mandate and stay the September 21", "paragraph_id": "para_113" }, { "text": "order. Onder v. Missouri, No. 26–2797 (CA8, Sept. 22, 2026).", "paragraph_id": "para_114" }, { "text": "4 PEOPLE NOT POLITICIANS v. ONDER", "paragraph_id": "para_115" }, { "text": "Per Curiam", "paragraph_id": "para_116" }, { "text": "Missouri: “At this point, it is practically impossible to revert", "paragraph_id": "para_117" }, { "text": "to the” 2025 “map.” Brief for Missouri Association of", "paragraph_id": "para_118" }, { "text": "County Clerks and Election Authorities as Amicus Curiae", "paragraph_id": "para_119" }, { "text": "in No. 26–2797 (CA8), p. 12.", "paragraph_id": "para_120" }, { "text": "At this late date, ordering reversion to the 2025 map in", "paragraph_id": "para_121" }, { "text": "the midst of an ongoing election would usher in electoral", "paragraph_id": "para_122" }, { "text": "chaos. Purcell protects against such disorder. The Eighth", "paragraph_id": "para_123" }, { "text": "Circuit panel dealt with Purcell by casting blame on the", "paragraph_id": "para_124" }, { "text": "Missouri Supreme Court for its September 3 decision", "paragraph_id": "para_125" }, { "text": "prohibiting use of the 2025 map. The state court, it", "paragraph_id": "para_126" }, { "text": "reasoned, destabilized the election with its “last-minute", "paragraph_id": "para_127" }, { "text": "decisio[n]” that could “potentially . . . decide the outcome of", "paragraph_id": "para_128" }, { "text": ". . . party control of Congress.” ___ F. 4th, at ___, App. to", "paragraph_id": "para_129" }, { "text": "Emergency Motion 29a.", "paragraph_id": "para_130" }, { "text": "The Eighth Circuit’s application of Purcell was incorrect.", "paragraph_id": "para_131" }, { "text": "Even though “federal courts should not impose changes", "paragraph_id": "para_132" }, { "text": "close to an election, States are free to decide for themselves", "paragraph_id": "para_133" }, { "text": "whether last-minute changes to an election are in their best", "paragraph_id": "para_134" }, { "text": "interests”—subject, of course, to certain limited constraints", "paragraph_id": "para_135" }, { "text": "imposed by federal law. Allen, 608 U. S., at 514 (citation", "paragraph_id": "para_136" }, { "text": "omitted). Moreover, in this case, the Missouri Supreme", "paragraph_id": "para_137" }, { "text": "Court was not responsible for the late-breaking changes.", "paragraph_id": "para_138" }, { "text": "On the contrary, in an opinion back in May 2026, well", "paragraph_id": "para_139" }, { "text": "before the primary election, the Missouri Supreme Court", "paragraph_id": "para_140" }, { "text": "stated that the 2025 map would not take effect until", "paragraph_id": "para_141" }, { "text": "approved by the voters in an intervening referendum, at", "paragraph_id": "para_142" }, { "text": "least if the referendum petition was legally sufficient.", "paragraph_id": "para_143" }, { "text": "Maggard v. State, 733 S. W. 3d 411, 419–420 (Mo. 2026);", "paragraph_id": "para_144" }, { "text": "see also Healey v. State, 732 S. W. 3d 827, 836, n. 1 (Mo.", "paragraph_id": "para_145" }, { "text": "2026); NAACP Mo. State Conference v. Kehoe, 734 S. W. 3d", "paragraph_id": "para_146" }, { "text": "338, 341, n. 4 (Mo. 2026). So in the several-month period", "paragraph_id": "para_147" }, { "text": "before the August primary election, the Missouri Secretary", "paragraph_id": "para_148" }, { "text": "of State was well aware that conducting the August", "paragraph_id": "para_149" }, { "text": "primary election with the 2025 map carried significant", "paragraph_id": "para_150" }, { "text": "risks. The Secretary nonetheless chose to proceed with the", "paragraph_id": "para_151" }, { "text": "2025 map for the primary.", "paragraph_id": "para_152" }, { "text": "5Cite as: 609 U. S. ____ (2026)", "paragraph_id": "para_153" }, { "text": "Per Curiam", "paragraph_id": "para_154" }, { "text": "* * *", "paragraph_id": "para_155" }, { "text": "For those reasons, the application for stay presented to", "paragraph_id": "para_156" }, { "text": "JUSTICE KAVANAUGH and by him referred to the Court is", "paragraph_id": "para_157" }, { "text": "granted. The September 21, 2026, mandate and September", "paragraph_id": "para_158" }, { "text": "22, 2026, order entered by the U. S. Court of Appeals for the", "paragraph_id": "para_159" }, { "text": "Eighth Circuit in No. 26–2797, and the September 21, 2026,", "paragraph_id": "para_160" }, { "text": "and September 22, 2026, injunctions entered by the U. S.", "paragraph_id": "para_161" }, { "text": "District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, No.", "paragraph_id": "para_162" }, { "text": "4:26–cv–01424, ECF Docs. 57 and 60, are stayed absent any", "paragraph_id": "para_163" }, { "text": "further order of this Court lifting such stays. The prior stay", "paragraph_id": "para_164" }, { "text": "entered by this Court on September 10, 2026, likewise", "paragraph_id": "para_165" }, { "text": "remains in effect pending any further order of this Court", "paragraph_id": "para_166" }, { "text": "lifting that stay. The District Court and Court of Appeals", "paragraph_id": "para_167" }, { "text": "should not enjoin or otherwise prohibit the use of the 2022", "paragraph_id": "para_168" }, { "text": "map in the 2026 congressional election in Missouri. 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