Missouri voters block GOP‑backed redistricting referendum and reject amendment tightening ballot‑initiative rules
Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins announced he would not certify a citizens’ referendum that sought to overturn the GOP‑drawn congressional map, deeming the effort unconstitutional. Hoskins said, “After careful consideration, I have determined the challenge to the new ‘Missouri First’ congressional map to be insufficient based on its unconstitutionality.” The referendum had gathered more than 300,000 signatures, well above the roughly 106,000 required.
His decision leaves the new map in place for the June primaries and the upcoming midterm elections, preserving the Republican advantage in the state’s congressional delegation. The group People Not Politicians Missouri, whose executive director Richard von Glahn called Hoskins’s action “a last‑minute attempt to silence the people’s voice,” said it will sue to have the referendum placed on the ballot.
In the same election, Missouri voters decisively rejected Amendment 4, which would have required citizen‑initiated constitutional amendments to win a majority in each of the state’s eight congressional districts, and also turned down Amendment 5, a proposal to repeal the state income tax. Opponents of Amendment 4 outspent its supporters by more than $6 million on broadcast advertising. The defeats keep the existing direct‑democracy process and the state income‑tax system intact.
Entities: Amendment 4 · Amendment 5 · Denny Hoskins · Ed Lewis · Emanuel Cleaver · Mike Kehoe · Missouri Secretary of State · Missouri voters · People Not Politicians Missouri
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Opposition groups spent more than $6 million on broadcast ads against Amendment 4, while its supporters aired none. (AdImpact data)
- [● 7 SOURCES] The referendum petition gathered more than 300,000 signatures, exceeding the roughly 106,000 required. (existing)
- [● 6 SOURCES] Missouri voters rejected Amendment 4, which would have required citizen‑initiated constitutional amendments to win a majority in each of the state’s eight congressional districts. (Missouri election results)
- [● 8 SOURCES] Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins refused to certify a referendum seeking to undo the GOP‑drawn congressional map, deeming it unconstitutional. (Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins)
- [● 7 SOURCES] The new congressional map is being used in the June primaries and will remain in effect for upcoming elections. (Missouri election officials)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Governor Mike Kehoe and Attorney General Catherine Hanaway agreed with Hoskins that the referendum is unconstitutional. (Both officials expressed support for Hoskins’ view.)
- [● 5 SOURCES] Hoskins’ decision to reject the referendum is expected to be challenged in state court. (People Not Politicians Missouri said it will file a lawsuit.)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Amendment 4 was proposed by Republican state Rep. Ed Lewis. (existing)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins rejected certification of a referendum to undo the GOP‑drawn congressional map, citing unconstitutionality. (Hoskins said the challenge was insufficient based on its unconstitutionality.)
- [● 4 SOURCES] The referendum petition gathered more than 300,000 signatures, exceeding the required roughly 106,000. (People Not Politicians Missouri reported the signature count.)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Missouri voters rejected Amendment 4, which would have required citizen‑initiated constitutional amendments to win a majority in each of the eight congressional districts. (Election results projected by AP and NBC News.)
- [● 4 SOURCES] The new congressional map was approved by the Republican‑led Missouri Legislature and is being used in the 2026 primaries. (Multiple reports on the map’s adoption.)