A Missouri judge on August 19, 2026, blocked a proposed voter referendum that sought to suspend the state's new Republican-drawn congressional map, ruling that the state constitution does not allow referendums on congressional redistricting.
Cole County Circuit Judge Daniel Green held that the constitution's provision permitting voters to petition for a referendum on "any act" of the Legislature does not extend to laws establishing congressional districts, according to St. Louis Public Radio and the Missouri Independent.
The dispute stems from House Bill 1, the map adopted during a 2025 special session called by Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe at the urging of the Trump administration. The redrawn lines are designed to favor Republicans in a district currently held by Democrats.
The group People Not Politicians submitted roughly 305,000 signatures seeking to place the map before voters, a total that organizers said exceeded the requirement several times over and that was not challenged for validity. Republican Secretary of State Denny Hoskins declared the referendum effort unconstitutional, prompting the litigation.
Green's decision is not final. Missouri Supreme Court Chief Justice Brent Powell had urged a rapid ruling given the deadline to alter the November 2026 ballot, and the case is expected to be appealed. The outcome will determine whether the new map is used in the 2026 midterms.
Sources: St. Louis Public Radio, Missouri Independent, KCUR