In November, Missouri voters will decide on a referendum against the redistricted state congressional map that was passed under HB 1.
On Sept. 3, the Missouri Supreme Court ruled that the referendum will appear on the ballot after nine months of litigation. Under the Supreme Court order, the HB 1 map cannot be used in the 2026 elections. Instead, the Nov. 2026 election will use the map used in the 2024 election, which was enacted in 2022.
The referendum targets the redistricting map; HB 1 redrew the state's eight congressional districts. HB 1 divides Kansas City, Missouri, between three congressional districts. Currently, most of Kansas City was within the 5th Congressional District, which Emanuel Cleaver (D) represented. Gov. Mike Kehoe (R) signed HB 1 on Sept. 28, 2025, and it was in effect during the statewide elections on August 4, 2026.
President Donald Trump (R) said HB 1 "will, hopefully, give us an additional Seat in Congress" and "will help send an additional MAGA Republican to Congress in the 2026 Midterm Elections." U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D) said, "Bowing to the demands of Donald Trump, corrupt Missouri Republicans advanced their mid-decade gerrymandering scheme today to try and rig the midterm elections in order to salvage the weak GOP House majority."
The campaign supporting the referendum effort, People Not Politicians, submitted 305,000 signatures to place the referendum on the ballot. After nine months of litigation surrounding the measure, Secretary of State Denny Hoskins (R) rejected the referendum, saying that the congressional redistricting plan was not subject to referendum under the constitution.
On Sept. 4, the Missouri Supreme Court denied Secretary Hoskins's request to pause its order requiring the Nov. 3, 2026 election to use the congressional map in effect during the 2024 election. Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway (R) said she would appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The Missouri Supreme Court also approved another citizen initiative to the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot, which would prohibit the legislature from repealing or amending a citizen initiative unless eighty percent of voters approve the changes. Missouri voters will decide five total measures on Nov. 3.
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