Missouri elections 2026

The Missouri Supreme Court has confirmed a redrawn congressional map that takes aim at the state’s 5th District, a longtime Democratic stronghold. Incumbent Congressman Emanuel Cleaver now prepares for a slate of new challengers to his seat.

The high court also rejected lawsuits contending that the new lines passed in 2025 were not compact as required by law.

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.

If the referendum qualifies for the November ballot, Missouri voters would be asked whether to approve the redistricting plan passed by Republican lawmakers. A citizen group sued Secretary of State Denny Hoskins accusing him of writing a biased summary, and two courts have now agreed.

Interim Jackson County Executive Phil LeVota joined KCUR's Up To Date to discuss why he changed his mind about filing to run for a full term in office. He also discusses the task force he assembled to assess the future of the Truman Sports Complex site, and his approach to addressing property tax concerns.

The proposed constitutional amendment gives Missouri lawmakers five years to expand sales and use taxes, in order to make up for revenue lost by eliminating the state income tax. It will appear in either a special election or on November's ballot.

Anger over the data center boom has spilled into politics with voters unseating local politicians who support them — most recently in Independence, Missouri. It's become an issue hard to ignore in the midterm elections.

All of Cleaver's past elections have been in his Kansas City backyard. This time, because Republican lawmakers gerrymandered the 5th congressional district, he’s facing the prospect of having to stump for votes from Troost Avenue all the way to Columbia.

Passing a proposed constitutional amendment to eliminate the income tax is a priority for Republicans in Jefferson City. The resolution still needs final approval from the Missouri House, but critics say that raising sales taxes will disproportionately hurt lower-income and elderly Missourians.

Two of the five city councilmembers who supported major tax breaks for an AI data center were on the ballot Tuesday. Both were ousted in their respective elections by a large margin.

One week after a controversial vote to approve rules for a CRG Clayco data center, anti-data center candidates ousted half of the Festus City Council.

With the 1% earnings tax secured until at least 2031, Kansas City now looks ahead to negotiations with the Royals, looming bond measures for water and housing, and the possible referendum to eliminate Missouri’s income tax.