The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Aug. 24, 2026
JEFFERSON CITY, MO — We’re back in Missouri, where a Cole County circuit judge ruled August 19th that a proposed November citizen ballot initiative, stonewalled by the secretary of state, could not constitutionally change voting districts. The Missouri Supreme Court will hear an appeal September 2nd.
In response to President Donald Trump’s call for mid-decade redistricting to gerrymander more GOP congressional seats, the Missouri legislature racially diluted greater Kansas City’s 5th district, held by 11-term Democratic Congressman Emanuel Cleaver. The Missouri Supreme Court later found the racially-gerrymandered map constitutional.
Pro-democracy group People Not Politicians Missouri launched a citizen ballot initiative to overturn the map, but after slow-walking acceptance of the measure for months, Secretary of State Denny Hoskins rejected it August 6th as unconstitutional.
The Missouri Independent reports that Cole County Judge Daniel Green ruled the state constitution referendum provisions, which allow citizens to challenge “any” laws passed by the legislature, don’t apply to legislature-drawn congressional districts. That’s contrary to a 1962 state supreme court ruling that redistricting maps were subject to a referendum.
August 20th the Missouri Supreme Court set September 2nd to hear the redistricting case and another measure making it more difficult for the legislature to overturn citizen ballot initiatives.
We have more at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
Missouri Independent – Judge blocks referendum on gerrymandered Missouri redistricting plan
Missouri Independent – Missouri Supreme Court sets hearing date for referendum, initiative case appeals
Spectrum News/AP – Pair of decisions back Hoskins on redistricting and a proposed constitutional amendment; Appeals certain
BallotPedia – Missouri Congressional Map Referendum (2026)
Related ADM Reports:
American Democracy Minute – Updates on Challenge to Missouri SOS Invalidation of Redistricting Ballot Measure, and DOJ Loses Two More State Voter Data Cases
American Democracy Minute – Missouri Voters Block GOP’s Attempt to Change Ballot Measure Rules; State SOS Blocks Nov. Measure Trying to Overturn Legislature’s Racially-Gerrymandered Congressional Map
Groups Taking Action:
Register or Check Your Voter Registration:
U.S. Election Assistance Commission – How to Register And Vote in Your State
Please follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Bluesky Social, and SHARE!
Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org
Subscribe for FREE at Apple Podcasts, Spotify and most podcasting platforms.
#News #Democracy #DemocracyNews #RacialGerrymandering #MissouriPolitics #VoterSuppression #TrumpGerrymandering