Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's highest court; imposed a new congressional map in 2018.
Pennsylvania's top court replaced a congressional map in 2018 before any ballot was printed, the precedent that frames the 25 September 2026 US Supreme Court stay that held Missouri to its 2022 lines because voting had begun.
Last refreshed: 1 October 2026
Timeline for Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Mentioned in: Justices keep Missouri on its 2022 map
US Midterms 2026Mentioned in: Virginia high court hears, sets no clock
US Midterms 2026Mentioned in: Cook moves 5 Virginia seats on a voided map
US Midterms 2026Background
Pennsylvania's Supreme Court sits seven justices under Chief Justice Debra Todd. Justices face yes-or-no retention votes for further ten-year terms; Justices Christine Donohue, Kevin Dougherty and David Wecht were all retained on 4 November 2025.
In League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania v. Commonwealth, the Court ruled on 22 January 2018 that the 2011 congressional plan 'clearly, plainly and palpably' violated the state constitution. Its full opinion of 7 February rested on the Free and Equal Elections Clause. On 19 February it adopted its own map for the 15 May primary. The US Supreme Court twice refused to stay the ruling, on 5 February and 19 March 2018, and a federal three-judge court dismissed Republican legislators' challenge for lack of standing on 19 March.
The case is the clearest example of a state court imposing a new congressional map. Its timing is what sets it apart from Missouri in 2026, where the US Supreme Court kept the older lines on 25 September because overseas ballots had been in the post since 18 September.