Missouri Opponents Launch Referendum Against GOP Redistricting Plan

Wed Dec 10 2025 00:20:55 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A coalition in Missouri has submitted over 300,000 signatures to challenge the state's new congressional map which supporters claim is designed to help Republicans maintain their majority in the upcoming elections.

In a significant political move, opponents of Missouri's recently drawn congressional map have gathered 300,000 signatures aimed at prompting a statewide referendum. This effort challenges a redistricting strategy that aligns with former President Donald Trump's interests in securing Republican seats in the U.S. House. Despite concerns raised by the state's Secretary of State regarding the legality of the referendum proceedings, if successful, the referendum could significantly impact Republican efforts to gain a competitive edge in the 2024 elections, particularly in districts perceived to favor Democrats. The contentious political environment is being coupled with ongoing legal challenges surrounding the redistricting effort itself.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A coalition opposing Missouri's new congressional map has submitted over 300,000 petition signatures to the state's Secretary of State’s office, seeking a statewide referendum to challenge a redistricting plan that is reportedly influenced by former President Donald Trump. This new map is viewed as a strategic maneuver to aid the Republican Party in retaining its slim majority in the House during the upcoming elections.

Organizers claim that their petition drive has far exceeded the approximately 110,000 signatures originally needed to halt the implementation of the new U.S. House districts pending a public vote.

Local election authorities and Republican Secretary of State Denny Hoskins will now need to verify the signatures, with Hoskins previously asserting that the referendum procedure is unconstitutional. However, if verified, the forthcoming referendum could serve as a substantial hindrance for Republican efforts to secure a potentially Democratic-held seat in the Kansas City area in the upcoming November elections.

State law mandates that referendum votes coincide with the November election unless adjusted by the General Assembly in its regular session beginning in January.

The Political Implications of Redistricting

Redistricting is typically revisited once a decade following census data, but current political tensions have stirred an unusual mid-decade redistricting battle. Following Trump’s public directive for Republican-led states to amend congressional maps favorably, Missouri’s developments reflect broader strategic maneuvers among national parties.

The landscape appears challenging for Democrats, who need a net gain of only three seats to seize control of the U.S. House, intensifying the significance of every congressional seat.

Additionally, various legal battles are emerging across multiple states as redistricting efforts unfold. States like Texas and North Carolina are enacting new maps seen as advantageous for Republicans, while California state measures seem to bolster Democratic positions.

Meanwhile, the referendum campaign in Missouri, led by People Not Politicians, has drawn backing of around $5 million, predominantly from national groups resisting the current redistricting initiative. On the other hand, Republican-affiliated organizations have contributed over $2 million to support the new map.

The political struggle persists as various actors attempt to undermine the referendum's credibility, including accusations of payments offered to deter petition gatherings. Legal battles over the wording of ballot summaries and claims concerning the constitutionality of such referendums further cloud the impending decision-making process.

This marks the first statewide referendum on congressional redistricting in Missouri in over a century, last recorded in 1922 when a Republican-drawn map was rejected by a significant margin of 62% in public votes.