Denny Hoskins

The Respect Missouri Voters campaign submitted more than 330,000 signatures for an amendment that would limit lawmakers from repealing or changing laws approved through the initiative process. Secretary of State Denny Hoskins rejected the petition Tuesday while also replacing the ballot title he already certified.

Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins rejected a citizen referendum that would have given voters the chance to overturn the new Republican-drawn congressional map. Hoskins said the measure was unconstitutional, but the group People Not Politicians said he's being "obstructionist."

The GOP Secretary of State's decision was expected. Proponents of placing the GOP-leaning map up for a statewide vote will go to court to put a vote on the plan on the November ballot.

Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins says he intends to block state and federal funds from reaching Daniel Boone Regional Library after its Columbia branch read LGBTQ+ picture books aloud. One state lawmaker said the event was wholesome and called the threats "government censorship."

Missouri voters in 28 counties have been assigned to a different congressional district under the Republican-drawn map intended to oust Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II. But a referendum effort and lawsuits could still change where voters end up in November.

Judges increasingly have found that official summaries from Missouri election officials fail to tell voters what ballot measures would actually do — forcing rewrites on amendments about abortion, redistricting and more. Republicans say courts are overstepping.

Missouri Sen. Eric Schmitt signaled that Republicans will target majority-minority districts in blue states as they try to gerrymander maps ahead of the 2026 election. Some officials are already targeting Missouri's 1st District near St. Louis.

People Not Politicians wants a judge to compel Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins to either accept or reject the anti-redistricting ballot issue — and stop telling elections officials to implement a plan aimed at ousting Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver.

The head of the state clerks association says local election officials still lack access to the voter database needed to finalize new district assignments.

A Cole County judge is being asked to block the measure from the ballot or rewrite its summary for voters.

After a Missouri Supreme Court decision Tuesday, the group People Not Politicians is urging Secretary of State Denny Hoskins to make a decision on whether its referendum on the 2025 congressional map will make the November 2026 ballot.

Backers of the Respect Missouri Voters initiative turned in roughly 350,000 signatures on Sunday to the Missouri secretary of state’s office. Lawmakers would be barred from changing or repealing voter-approved statutes or constitutional amendments, unless 80% of the legislature agrees to put the changes to another statewide vote.