Denny Hoskins rejects Missouri petition for congressional redistricting referendum
Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins rejected a citizens' petition seeking a statewide referendum on the state's new congressional redistricting plan. The decision, announced just before the primary election, asserts that congressional redistricting cannot be subject to a referendum under Missouri law. Supporters of the referendum, led by the group People Not Politicians, submitted over 300,000 signatures to force a public vote on the map backed by the administration. While the petition qualified for the ballot based on the number of signatures, Hoskins argued that the map is unconstitutional to challenge via referendum because the state constitution is silent on the authority. The move has sparked immediate legal action from supporters who claim the decision silences the people's voice. Meanwhile, the new map, which reshapes the fifth congressional district to favor Republicans, is currently being used for the primary elections. If a court eventually rules in favor of the referendum, it remains unclear how it will affect the 2026 general election results.