Missouri elections 2026

Political scientists in Kansas and Missouri say Tuesday’s primary elections — particularly the constitutional amendments on the ballot — will gauge public opinion about whose voices should be heard in government and how much trust citizens have in their elected officials.

63% of Missouri's general revenue comes from individual income taxes. Critics of Amendment 5 wonder how the legislature will fill the gap. States without income tax have raised revenue by adding taxes on everything from tourism to tobacco.

Amendment 4 would require any constitutional amendment put on the ballot through the initiative petition process to pass in all eight congressional districts, rather than by a simple majority. Missouri voters in recent years have passed amendments like abortion rights and marijuana legalization that were opposed by Republican lawmakers.

Amendment 5 has garnered attention and advertising dollars aimed at swaying undecided Missouri voters. KC Media Collective partner The Beacon analyzed ads about the proposal to examine the claims and iron out what the constitutional amendment would actually do.

While Missouri 1st Congressional District incumbent Wesley Bell has raised more money, Cori Bush's willingness to depart from Democratic leaders, particularly on support for Israel, is appealing to some voters.

If approved by Missouri voters on Aug. 4, 2026, Amendment 5 would require the Missouri General Assembly to phase out the income tax based on revenue growth. The amendment also authorizes lawmakers to expand sales and use taxes to replace the lost income tax revenue.

When Kansas City voters cast their ballots in the Aug. 4 election, Question 1 will ask whether the city can issue $100 million in bonds to fund affordable housing projects. Find out about what the Housing Trust Fund has accomplished in the past and what this bond would do.

Amendment 5’s sponsor says it won’t affect schools in the short term and could help in the long term. But critics say it leaves too many unanswered questions.

Question 3 on the Aug. 4 election asks Kansas City voters to extend the 1/8-cent Central City Economic Development tax that helps fund projects in the urban core.

A statement signed by four Missouri diocese leaders doesn't specifically tell voters to reject the August ballot issue, which would allow expanded sales taxes and end the state income tax. But the bishops say it will disproportionately harm people with lower incomes.

If approved by Missouri voters on Aug. 4, 2026, Amendment 4 would raise the threshold to change the state constitution through the citizen-led initiative petition process. However, amendments sent to the ballot by the Missouri General Assembly would only require a simple majority to pass.

Kansas City Council member Nathan Willett's former state campaign sent to $165,000 to a nonprofit, which later gave nearly the same amount to a super PAC backing his bid for Missouri 6th Congressional District.