Missouri Secretary of State Rejects Referendum Against GOP-Drawn Congressional Map

Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins announced on August 4, 2026, that he would not certify a referendum aimed at overturning the newly drawn congressional map, which eliminates one Democratic-held seat. Hoskins stated that the petition was unconstitutional, despite the valid number of signatures collected by the group People Not Politicians Missouri, which gathered over 300,000 signatures to challenge the map. The map, approved by Missouri legislators nearly a year ago, is set to be used in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections. Following the announcement, People Not Politicians Missouri indicated plans to file a lawsuit against Hoskins. Hoskins expressed hope that the courts would rule in his favor, noting that the state could potentially use the previous map for the general election if necessary.