Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins on Tuesday refused to certify a referendum effort seeking to undo the state’s newly drawn GOP-drawn congressional map, declaring the petition unconstitutional and allowing the map to proceed for the 2026 midterm elections.
The decision follows the submission of more than 300,000 signatures by the group People Not Politicians Missouri, which sought to force a statewide vote on the map approved by the Republican-led legislature nearly a year ago. Under Missouri law, a veto referendum requires at least 106,000 valid signatures from across the state to qualify for the ballot. The group has indicated it plans to file a lawsuit challenging Hoskins’ ruling.
Hoskins’ rationale
In a statement to NBC News, Hoskins said the referendum itself was “insufficient based on its unconstitutionality”, asserting that state and federal law prohibit voter referendums on congressional redistricting plans. He added that Missouri’s Attorney General Catherine Hanaway and Governor Mike Kehoe, both Republicans, agreed with his interpretation. Hoskins did not dispute the validity of the signatures submitted but emphasized that the legal mechanism for challenging the map was invalid.
The contested map
The new congressional map, dubbed the “Missouri First” plan, eliminates one of Missouri’s two Democratic-held seats by redrawing the Kansas City-based 5th Congressional District, currently represented by Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO). The revised district stretches into rural central Missouri, giving it a Republican-leaning tilt. Republicans already hold six of the state’s eight congressional seats and aim to secure an additional seat under the new map, which has been in use since the 2024 primaries.
Reaction from advocates
People Not Politicians Missouri, the group behind the referendum drive, called Hoskins’ decision a “desperate attempt to silence the people’s voice” and vowed to pursue legal action. Richard von Glahn, the group’s executive director, stated that election officials had confirmed the signatures met the threshold, reinforcing their claim that the referendum should proceed.
The dispute over Missouri’s congressional map is part of a broader national redistricting battle fueled by former President Donald Trump’s call last year for Republican-led states to redraw districts to strengthen the party’s narrow House majority ahead of the 2024 midterms. Missouri was among the first states to act on this directive, following Texas in implementing a similar strategy.
Legal and political implications
The legal challenge is expected to focus on whether Missouri’s constitution permits referendums on congressional redistricting, a question that has divided legal experts. Supporters of the referendum argue that the high number of signatures demonstrates broad public opposition to the map, while opponents contend that constitutional limits on direct democracy prevent such challenges to legislative redistricting.
The outcome of the lawsuit could set a precedent for other states considering similar redistricting measures, particularly in states where one-party control has led to contentious map-drawing processes.