Missouri Voters File Lawsuit to Suspend New Congressional Map Ahead of Referendum
Updated (3 articles)
Lawsuit Filed by Kansas City Voters Targets Trump‑Backed Redistricting Two Kansas City‑area voters filed a suit on Dec. 23, 2025, arguing the new congressional map, championed by former President Donald Trump, should be automatically suspended after opponents gathered over 300,000 petition signatures seeking a statewide referendum [1]. The complaint seeks a court order to halt the map’s implementation until voters decide its fate, adding to a series of challenges aimed at the 2026 election cycle [1]. Plaintiffs contend the map violates Missouri’s constitutional provisions for voter‑initiated suspensions [1].
Petition Signature Threshold and Verification Deadline Set the Timeline Missouri law requires roughly 110,000 valid signatures, collected in at least two‑thirds of the state’s districts, to place a measure on the ballot [1]. Local election officials must verify the signatures by July 28, after which Secretary of State Denny Hoskins can certify the petition and potentially block the map [1]. The verification window overlaps with the August 4 primary filing deadline, creating uncertainty for candidates planning to run under the new districts [1].
Attorney General Warns Map Remains Effective Unless Officially Suspended Missouri Attorney General says the redrawn districts have taken effect and will stay in place unless Hoskins validates the petition and issues a certification [1]. Without such action, candidates can file for the 2026 races using the contested boundaries, potentially shaping the electoral landscape before any referendum [1]. The timing pressure could extend legal disputes beyond the primary filing period, complicating campaign strategies [1].
Case Joins Nationwide Mid‑Decade Redistricting Battles The lawsuit is framed as part of a broader national effort to reshape congressional maps in Republican‑controlled states, a strategy linked to Trump’s plan to secure additional GOP seats before the 2026 elections [1]. Missouri’s challenge marks at least the ninth legal contest over the state’s new map, with earlier suits questioning the legality of the special session called by Gov. Mike Kehoe [1]. Outcomes may influence similar petitions and lawsuits in other states pursuing mid‑term redistricting reforms [1].
Timeline
2022 – A late‑year gubernatorial redistricting map adoption after the census sets a precedent that allows legislators to push new congressional boundaries close to filing deadlines, shaping how Missouri’s 2026 races could be contested [3].
2024 – A Utah judge rules a proposed congressional map “unduly favors Republicans,” orders an alternative, and triggers a special session that moves the 2026 filing deadline, illustrating how courts can reshape state redistricting timelines [3].
2024 – Texas passes a Trump‑backed congressional map designed to add GOP seats, and the U.S. Supreme Court clears its use for the 2026 elections, signaling a national push for mid‑decade redistricting that Missouri joins [3].
2024 – Democrats secure a California map that could create additional Democratic seats, highlighting the partisan stakes of state‑level redistricting battles across the country [3].
Dec 9, 2025 – Opponents turn in >300,000 signatures to the Missouri secretary of state, far surpassing the ~110,000 needed to suspend the new U.S. House districts until a statewide referendum [1].
Dec 9, 2025 – Secretary of State Denny Hoskins says he will conduct a “slow and steady” review of the signatures and will not rule on constitutionality until verification is complete [3].
Dec 9, 2025 – Hoskins drafts a ballot summary stating the map “repeals Missouri’s existing gerrymandered congressional plan … and better reflects statewide voting patterns,” a description that petition supporters immediately challenge in court [1].
Dec 9, 2025 – The pro‑map coalition raises over $2 million from national Republican‑aligned groups, while the opposition’s People Not Politicians group raises about $5 million, mostly from out‑of‑state donors [1].
Dec 9, 2025 – Analysts warn the petition could “affect a Kansas City‑area seat held by Democrats” in the 2026 election if the referendum delays or overturns the new districts [1].
Dec 23, 2025 – Voters file a lawsuit on behalf of two Kansas City‑area residents seeking an automatic suspension of the map, arguing that the petition’s filing should have halted the districts earlier this month [2].
Dec 23, 2025 – Missouri’s attorney general states the new districts “took effect and will stay in place” unless Secretary of State Hoskins verifies the signatures, noting the verification deadline is July 28, 2026 and the primary is set for Aug 4, 2026 [2].
Dec 23, 2025 – The suit marks at least the ninth legal challenge to Missouri’s new map, joining earlier cases that contest the special session’s legality, constitutional redistricting limits, and compactness requirements [2].
Feb 24–Mar 31, 2026 – Candidate filing for congressional races runs during this window, creating uncertainty for candidates if the petition’s outcome delays the final district lines [3].
July 28, 2026 – Local election officials must finish verifying petition signatures, after which Secretary of State Hoskins can certify whether the measure qualifies for a statewide ballot [2].
Aug 4, 2026 – Missouri holds its primary elections, a date that could be impacted if the referendum process alters district boundaries before voters cast ballots [2].
Nov 2026 – State law schedules the referendum on the new congressional map for the November general election, unless lawmakers move it earlier, potentially deciding the fate of the Kansas City seat and the broader partisan balance [1].