Missouri Supreme Court opens contempt inquiry into GOP election official over redistricting fight

The Missouri Supreme Court on Tuesday issued an order asking Secretary of State Denny Hoskins “why he should not be held in contempt” for violating a court ruling that blocked the state's newly drawn redistricting map. 

Despite the ruling, Hoskins continued to push to use the 2025 Republican redistricting plan, which sought to eliminate one of the state’s two Democratic-held seats, currently held by Rep. Emanuel Cleaver.

The court also ordered Hoskins to appear in person when the judges hold a hearing in the case on Thursday, NBC News reported. 

In a post on X, Hoskins stated he wasn't going to back down. 

"I will always fight to protect our common-sense Missouri values from a liberal Democrat Socialist and his out-of-state NYC sugar daddies. The Show Me State will not be run into the ground like the communists running NYC on my watch. I will continue to abide by Judge Clark’s federal temporary restraining order on a federal congressional election. I look forward to my day in court," Hoskins said. 

On Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected an appeal from Hoskins to use the new map, and soon after the high court refused to review the ruling, a federal judge in Missouri issued a new ruling saying the state is required to use the new map. This sets up a dispute between state and federal courts. Litigation continues and could return to the U.S. Supreme Court again.