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JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri (KMBC) — Opponents of Missouri’s new congressional map sued Secretary of State Denny Hoskins on late Tuesday night, hours after he rejected their referendum petition as unconstitutional.
Richard von Glahn, who is the executive director of People Not Politicians, filed the lawsuit in Cole County Circuit Court.
The lawsuit asks a judge to reverse Hoskins’ decision, declare the referendum legally sufficient and block the state from using the new congressional districts while the case is pending.
Hoskins announced earlier Tuesday that the referendum was insufficient because, in his view, Missouri’s constitution does not allow voters to challenge congressional redistricting through the referendum process.
He said the number of signatures, which People Not Politicians estimated at 300,000, submitted was irrelevant.
“At issue is not the number of signatures turned into the challenge the new congressional map, but the fact that the referendum itself is null and void by virtue of the fact that it is unconstitutional,” Hoskins said. “Therefore, House Bill 1, the Missouri First Map, continues to be the law of the land.”
Hoskins said he acted on legal advice from Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway.
Meanwhile, the lawsuit argues Missouri’s constitution allows referendums on any law except emergency legislation and certain appropriations bills.
It contends House Bill 1, which is the ‘Missouri First’ congressional map signed by Gov. Mike Kehoe in 2025, does not fall under those exceptions.
It also makes reference of the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Moore v. Harper, arguing congressional redistricting remains subject to a state’s normal lawmaking process, including referendums where state law allows.
The new congressional map, which was in place for Tuesday’s primary, divided Kansas City into three separate districts.
Should the map be overturned, thousands of voters in the state could be voting in a different district in November’s general election.
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