Missouri election chief rejects referendum on Trump-backed congressional districts

Key Points:

• Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins rejected a citizens' petition for a statewide referendum on new congressional districts, stating that such redistricting plans cannot be subject to voter referendums under Missouri law.
• The petition, backed by the group People Not Politicians Missouri and supported by President Donald Trump, had submitted over 300,000 signatures, surpassing the threshold needed for a ballot, but Hoskins deemed it unconstitutional.
• The new congressional map, approved by the Republican-led Missouri Legislature and used in recent primaries, reshapes districts to favor Republicans, particularly by altering the Kansas City-based 5th Congressional District to have a Republican tilt.
• The referendum effort is expected to challenge Hoskins' decision in court, raising questions about the legality and timing of the redistricting process and its impact on upcoming elections.
• Missouri's mid-decade redistricting is part of a broader Republican strategy across several states to redraw districts for electoral advantage, with Republicans potentially gaining up to 16 House seats, though facing challenges such as historically difficult midterm environments and President Trump's low approval ratings.