Missouri voters to decide new congressional map in November
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Outside the Missouri Supreme Court building. Photo: Courtesy of People Not Politicians
Missouri's Supreme Court unanimously blocked the state's new congressional map Thursday and ordered a statewide vote on whether it ever takes effect, overturning Secretary of State Denny Hoskins' decision and validating a petition with more than 305,000 signatures.
Why it matters: November's election will run on the old map, meaning much of Kansas City reverts to 5th District, where Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver has won with at least 60% of the vote in the past two elections.
- Voters will separately decide the new map's fate on the same ballot.
Catch up quick: Republican lawmakers redrew Missouri's districts last September at President Trump's urging, creating a 7-1 GOP advantage.
- People Not Politicians submitted a petition with more than 305,000 signatures to force a referendum, and Hoskins rejected the petition, calling it unconstitutional.
- The group lost twice in Cole County courts last month, and Chief Justice Brent Powell expedited appeals to beat the ballot deadline.
What's inside: The high court's opinion says the redistricted map "is not the law and has never been the law," adding that the 2022 map is the only one that's valid.
- The opinion does not reorder a revote for the primaries, which used the 2025 map, but called out Hoskins for delaying his certification.
- People Not Politicians' petition was legal, and the map "was referred to the voters as of December 9," per the court.
- A separate but related opinion says "the secretary failed to state any reason in his certificate for his insufficiency determination."
What they're saying: "The court ruling is abundantly clear," People Not Politicians executive director Richard von Glahn said after the ruling.
- "It simply reaffirms what we have said all along. We have the right to do a referendum, and a law cannot go into effect until the people decide," Glahn said.
- Hoskins said Wednesday that he would abide by whatever the court decided.
Yes, but: Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway posted on social media that the ruling disenfranchises voters and her office "will move immediately to seek relief" from the U.S. Supreme Court.
- Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe also posted, saying, "We are extremely disappointed in today's decision by unelected judges and their lack of respect for the legislative process."
Hundreds rallied outside the courthouse during arguments.
- Inside, the state and Republican intervenors argued the constitution never clearly allows a redistricting referendum.
- Solicitor General Lou Capozzi said that even if it does, the justices should let November run on the new map anyway.
- People Not Politicians attorney Chuck Hatfield said he was "absolutely appalled" by the argument, calling it open defiance of the court.
Follow the money: Donations have poured in, contributing $7.2 million to People Not Politicians and $3 million in national GOP money to Put Missouri First, the committee opposing it, KCUR reported.
What's next: The referendum appears on the Nov. 3 ballot as Proposition A, and a no vote would reject the new map; a yes vote would put it into effect for future elections.
- The ruling remakes the 5th District race: state Sen. Rick Brattin won the GOP nomination in the redrawn district, where AP estimated 59% of voters were new, and now faces Cleaver on the old lines. Both have said they'll run regardless of the map.
- Hanaway's U.S. Supreme Court appeal is the remaining question, though legal experts told KCUR before the ruling that the path for federal intervention was narrow and doubted the high court would step in.