Missouri Congressional Redistricting Referendum Rejection Challenge (von Glahn)

A pro-voting lawsuit asking the court to reverse the secretary of state’s rejection of an anti-gerrymander referendum. 

Background

A Missouri voter filed a lawsuit in state court challenging Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins’ (R) rejection of a redistricting referendum that would veto the GOP-controlled state legislature’s gerrymandered map. Plaintiff asserts that the referendum is sufficient because enough signatures were submitted and verified. Plaintiff also argues Hoskins’ stated reason for rendering the referendum unconstitutional – that the Missouri and U.S. Constitutions prohibit a referendum based on redistricting – is unfounded. The lawsuit asks the court to reverse Hoskins’ rejection of the referendum and block further implementation of the gerrymander.

Why It Matters

In September, Gov. Mike Kehoe (R) signed into law a new congressional map that dilutes the voting strength of Black voters in Kansas City. People Not Politicians obtained over 300,000 Missouri voter signatures — three times the required number of signatures — to put a “people’s veto” of the gerrymander on the statewide ballot. GOP officials in the state have sought to create obstacles for the ballot measure’s organizers at each stage of the referendum process.

Latest Updates

• Sept. 10, 2026: The Missouri Supreme Court will hold oral argument on the motion. Hoskins has been ordered to appear in person. The Missouri Supreme Court found Hoskins was in contempt but had remedied the violation by notifying state election officials he will use the 2022 congressional map for the 2026 midterms.
• Sept. 9, 2026: Hoskins is ordered to respond to the Missouri Supreme Court’s contempt order.
• Sept. 8, 2026: The U.S. Supreme Court denied Missouri’s emergency stay application, leaving the 2022 congressional map protecting Black voters in Kansas City in place for the midterms. Plaintiff filed a contempt motion with the Missouri Supreme Court after Hoskins ordered state officials to use the gerrymandered map in light of a district court injunction issued after the U.S. Supreme Court’s denial. The Missouri Supreme Court ordered Hoskins to address why he is not in contempt of this court’s order.
• Sept. 7, 2026: Plaintiff files opposition to Missouri’s emergency stay application.
• Sept. 4, 2026: Missouri filed an emergency stay application with the state supreme court’s order to the U.S. Supreme Court.
• Sept. 3, 2026: The Missouri Supreme Court ruled in favor of pro-voters, ordering the Secretary of State to: 1) use the 2022 congressional map protecting Black voters in Kansas City for the midterms, and 2) certify the referendum and place the 2025 gerrymandered map on the November ballot for voters to weigh in on.
• Sept. 2, 2026: The Missouri Supreme Court heard arguments.
• Aug. 30, 2026: Plaintiff filed their reply brief with the Missouri Supreme Court.
• Aug. 27, 2026: Secretary Hoskins and Republicans filed their response briefs with the Missouri Supreme Court.
• Aug. 25, 2025: Plaintiff filed their opening brief with the Missouri Supreme Court.
• Aug. 20, 2026: The Missouri Supreme Court transferred the case to itself from the state Court of Appeals.
• Aug. 19, 2026: The court ruled in favor of Secretary Hoskins, finding that Missourians’ right to a referendum vote does not apply to congressional redistricting. Plaintiff appealed to the state Court of Appeals.
• Aug. 18, 2026: Parties filed their trial briefs and Secretary Hoskins filed his answer.
• Aug. 12, 2026: The court held a hearing on the Republican party’s motion to intervene, and granted the motion.
• Aug. 11, 2026: Republicans filed their reply in support of their motion to intervene in the lawsuit.
• Aug. 10, 2026: The Chief Justice of the Missouri Supreme Court sent a letter to the judge emphasizing the importance of quick resolution to allow for the appeals process to play out before the Sept. 8 deadline to make changes to the Nov. ballot.
• Aug. 9, 2026: Plaintiff filed his opposition to the Republican party’s motion to intervene. Republicans asked the court to hear their motion by Aug. 12, and filed their answer to plaintiff’s petition.
• Aug. 7, 2026: The court cancelled the scheduling conference and reassigned the case to a new judge. The RNC, NRCC, and Missouri Republican State Committee moved to intervene in the case.
• Aug. 6, 2026: The court set a scheduling conference for Aug. 10. Hoskins promptly then filed a motion to change judges in an attempt to slow proceedings down. Hoskins then asked the court to hear the motion to change judges at the scheduling conference on Aug. 10.
• Aug. 4, 2026: Plaintiff filed his petition and asked the court to resolve the case by Sept. 8.