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A federal judge has rejected an attempt by Missouri’s Republican leadership to stop voters from weighing in on the state’s newly drawn congressional district map.
The ruling leaves the future of the controversial plan — designed to strengthen GOP control — in the hands of state courts and the referendum process.
Federal Court Declines to Block Referendum
No Jurisdiction to Intervene
On Monday, U.S. District Judge Zachary Bluestone dismissed a lawsuit filed by Attorney General Catherine Hanaway on behalf of Secretary of State Denny Hoskins and the Missouri General Assembly.
The suit contended that the U.S. Constitution prohibits statewide referendums on congressional redistricting plans.
Bluestone, however, ruled that he had no jurisdiction to decide the case and that the issues should be resolved entirely in state courts, not federal court.
Parallel State Court Trial Underway
The ruling arrived just hours after Cole County Circuit Judge Christopher Limbaugh held a three-hour hearing concerning two major questions:
- When can a referendum petition drive legally begin?
- Which signatures must be counted once petitions are submitted?
Limbaugh requested written proposals from attorneys by Wednesday afternoon and did not issue an immediate ruling.
Disputed Redistricting Map Set to Take Effect
Map Driven by GOP Leadership and Trump’s Push
The congressional redistricting bill — pushed through the Legislature in September at the urging of former President Donald Trump — is scheduled to take effect Thursday for the 2026 elections.
Republican lawmakers aim to secure seven of Missouri’s eight congressional seats, specifically by restructuring the 5th District, currently represented by Democrat Emanuel Cleaver of Kansas City.
Impact of a Successful Referendum
If opponents gather enough valid signatures, the map will not automatically take effect. Instead, Missouri voters would decide in a November statewide vote whether the map becomes law.
Judge Bluestone noted that all remaining issues can be resolved at the state level. He added that Secretary of State Hoskins himself could reject the petition from People Not Politicians, the group leading the referendum effort.
The signature deadline is Thursday.
Bluestone wrote that Hoskins possesses “a tool… almost no other litigant could boast — the power to declare the petition unconstitutional.”
Such an action would immediately trigger new litigation over whether Missouri’s Constitution allows referendums on redistricting.
State Lawsuit: When Can Signatures Be Collected?
Competing Legal Interpretations
The state-level hearing before Judge Limbaugh focused on when signature gathering becomes lawful.
Petitioners’ Argument
Attorney Chuck Hatfield, representing People Not Politicians, argued that Missouri’s Constitution grants citizens the authority to seek a referendum as soon as the General Assembly passes a bill.
He stressed that:
- The governor’s signature is not required
- Approval from the secretary of state is not required before collecting signatures
State’s Argument
Deputy Solicitor General William Seidleck said the opposite:
- A referendum can only target an enacted law
- A bill is not considered law until the governor signs it
- The secretary of state must approve the petition form before signatures can be counted
“You can only have a referendum on an enacted law,” Seidleck argued.
Challenge Filed by Supporters of the Map
Attorney Marc Ellinger, representing Put Missouri First, a group backing the GOP map, asked for the case to be dismissed as premature. Since no signatures have been officially submitted, he argued, there is no legal controversy yet.
Missouri law requires petitioners to gather signatures from 5% of voters in six of the eight congressional districts — roughly 110,000 signatures.
Signature Campaign Progress and Disputes
Massive Volunteer Effort
According to campaign director Richard von Glahn, People Not Politicians has:
- Recruited more than 2,000 volunteers
- Collected over 300,000 signatures, including 12,000 last week
Von Glahn told the Missouri Voter Protection Coalition that the movement is committed to ensuring every voter’s voice counts.
Disqualification of Early Signatures
Missouri Elections Director Chrissy Peters testified that, unless a court says otherwise, any signatures gathered before Oct. 14 — the date Hoskins approved the petition form — will not be reviewed.
People Not Politicians argues that signatures should count beginning Sept. 15, the date the form was originally submitted.
Out of the 300,000 signatures collected, this dispute affects approximately 92,000 signatures, which Hoskins has already rejected.
Additional Court Challenges Could Halt the Map Entirely
Judge Limbaugh also heard a separate redistricting lawsuit on Nov. 12. Opponents claim the state Constitution does not allow lawmakers to redraw congressional maps between census cycles.
If Limbaugh agrees, the map would become invalid.
Missouri’s Fight Mirrors National Redistricting Battles
Missouri’s dispute reflects a broader national struggle over partisan control of congressional districts.
- Republicans currently hold a 220–213 majority in the U.S. House
- Six states, including Missouri, enacted new maps this year following Texas’ aggressive redistricting to flip Democratic seats
- The U.S. Supreme Court recently upheld Texas’ map
Other states adjusting maps include:
- California (favoring Democrats)
- North Carolina (aiming for one additional GOP seat)
- Ohio (adding two GOP seats)
- Utah (commission revised map favoring Democrats in one district)
Further efforts are underway in Indiana and Virginia.
Escalating Attacks on Petition Organizers
As the signature deadline nears, criticism of the petition effort and its leaders has intensified.
- Attorney General Hanaway is demanding personnel records from Advanced Micro Targeting, a firm helping gather signatures
- The same firm is suing rival consultants, alleging attempts to sabotage the petition drive
- Donald Trump Jr. publicly attacked campaign director Richard von Glahn, calling him a “leftist nut job” and accusing him of trying to steal a GOP seat
Denise Lieberman of the Missouri Voter Protection Coalition condemned these attacks as “disgusting and inexcusable.”
Von Glahn said the hostile rhetoric has backfired, inspiring widespread support.
Missouri’s redistricting battle now hinges on unfolding state court decisions and the outcome of a massive referendum campaign.
While a federal judge has stepped aside, the conflict over when signatures can be collected, which signatures should count, and whether lawmakers legally redrew the map continues to intensify.
As political pressure escalates and national attention grows, the final decision may ultimately rest with Missouri voters — if the referendum qualifies for the ballot.