MISSOURI — A legislative process involving the Missouri congressional districts, which began over a year ago when the 2025 Missouri General Assembly passed House Bill 1 (HB1) — or the Missouri First Map — that was signed into law by Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe (R) on Sept. 28, 2025, will now be up to Missouri voters in November.
This ongoing lawsuit — which was filed on Aug. 4 against the State of Missouri and Missouri Secretary of State Dennis “Denny” Hoskins (R) by political advocacy organization People Not Politicians and its Executive Director Richard von Glahn following the organization’s collection of over 305,000 signatures to place an amendment on Missouri November ballots against HB1 — will go before the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals for a hearing on Sept. 17 in St. Louis, Mo. This oral argument will serve as the fifth court appearance in the case of People Not Politicians v. Hoskins.
Timeline
- Sept. 28, 2025 — Gov. Mike Kehoe signed HB1 into law
- Dec. 9, 2025 — People Not Politicians delivered over 305,000 petition signatures to the Secretary of State’s office in opposition of HB1, requesting corresponding ballot language for the November 2026 election
- Aug. 4 — the deadline for Hoskins to count the referendum petition signatures
- Aug. 4 — a press conference held by Hoskins where he declared a referendum to HB1 unconstitutional, as well as the date to tally the signatures selected by the Missouri General Assembly, insufficient
- Aug. 4 — People Not Politicians filed a lawsuit against Hoskins and the State of Missouri
- Aug. 19 — People Not Politicians v. Hoskins went before the 19th Judicial Circuit Court, where Judge Daniel R. Green ruled in favor of Hoskins
- Aug. 19 — People Not Politicians appealed this case to the Missouri Supreme Court
- Sept. 2 — The Missouri Supreme Court ruled in favor of People Not Politicians, stating that Hoskins was in Contempt of Court, following an email, which he sent to election board officials directing them to use HB1 in the November election.
- Sept. 4 — Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway (R) announced the State of Missouri had appealed the Missouri Supreme Court’s ruling to the Supreme Court of the United States
- Sept. 8 — The Supreme Court of the United States ruled in favor of People Not Politicians, agreeing with the Missouri Supreme Court’s decision
- Sept. 8 — Chief U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Clark filed a temporary restraining order enforcing Missouri to utilize HB1
- Sept. 10 — The Missouri Supreme Court held an oral argument for Hoskins’ contempt order, where he reversed his former statement — now urging election board officials to use 2022 congressional maps for the November election
- Sept. 10 — The U.S. Supreme Court blocked Clark’s restraining order, reinstating the 2022 congressional maps
- Sept. 17 — Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals oral argument in People Not Politicians v. Hoskins
The first hearing in People Not Politicians v. Hoskins went before Missouri’s 19th Judicial Circuit Court in Cole County, Mo., after von Glahn responded with a lawsuit to a press conference Hoskins held on Aug. 4 where he announced that a referendum to HB1 as well as the dates, which were selected to review the signatures were unconstitutional and insufficient.
After a judge ruled in favor of Hoskins and the State of Missouri, concluding that a referendum on HB1 is a violation of the Missouri Constitution, People Not Politicians appealed this decision to the Missouri Supreme Court.
On Sept. 2, the Missouri Supreme Court ruled in favor of People Not Politicians, stating that Hoskins was in Contempt of Court as he had previously directed election officials to implement HB1 on Missouri November General Election ballots.
“Thank you to the working men and women of Missouri who helped gather signatures to put this referendum on the ballot,” the Missouri AFL-CIO said in a social media post on Sept. 3. “Your work made this possible; this is an incredible victory for voters.”
“Never before in American history has a court overturned a congressional map after a primary and before a general election. This unprecedented decision clearly violates federal law and has thrust our state into a full‑fledged constitutional crisis,” Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway said in a social media post on Sept. 3. “Our office will move immediately to seek relief from SCOTUS.”
Hanaway announced in a social media post on Sept. 4 the State of Missouri’s decision to appeal the Missouri Supreme Court’s ruling to the Supreme Court of the United States. And on Sept. 8, when this case went before the U.S. Supreme Court, the justices agreed with the Missouri Supreme Court ruling.
This decision, which came from Associate Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh (R), required Missouri to enforce its 2022 congressional map, which was created from the 2020 census, instead of the proposed 2025 HB1. Of Missouri’s eight congressional districts, Republican representation occupies six, while Democratic representatives occupy two districts. Implementation of HB1 would give Republicans a seventh Missouri seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
“We affirm Secretary of State Denny Hoskins’ position and decision to advise local election authorities that the 2022 map is in effect. We respect and will continue to comply with all court decisions, including orders issued by the Supreme Court of Missouri,” Hanaway wrote in a social media post on Sept. 10. “We appreciate Secretary Hoskins’ continued commitment to upholding the law and working diligently to fulfill his duties on behalf of Missouri.”
However, following this ruling, Missouri was issued a 14-day temporary restraining order by Chief U.S. District Judge Stephen Clark, which required Missouri to use HB1 — filling a request, which was filed by Missouri’s 3rd Congressional District Representative Robert Onder (R) and Missouri District 31 Senator Richard “Rick” Brattin (R) with reasoning stating that the deadline to add items to the November ballot — which was 5 p.m. on Sept. 8 — had passed.
While the State trial court concluded that People Not Politicians’ arguments were not sufficient in how State officials could implement a new congressional map in two months, the U.S. Supreme Court overruled this decision — requiring enforcement of the 2022 Congressional Maps, according to the court docket.
“The referendum petition was legal, sufficient and timely, and the Secretary incorrectly concluded otherwise,” People Not Politicians wrote in a social media post. “HB1 did not go into effect and will not go into effect unless and until approved by the voters. The congressional redistricting the General Assembly established in 2022 remains in full force and effect for the November 2026 General Election.”
On Sept. 10, the Missouri Supreme Court held oral arguments for Hoskins regarding his contempt order. However, this contempt was removed by the court when the Secretary reversed his former request to election board officials, instead directing officers to utilize 2022 congressional maps.
Next Steps
An oral argument hearing will take place on Thursday, Sept. 17 in the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals in the case of People Not Politicians v. Hoskins.
In November, “Proposition A” — also referred to as the “Congressional Map Referendum” — will appear on Missouri ballots and read as follows:
“Do the people of the state of Missouri approve the act of the General Assembly entitled ‘House Bill No. 1 (2025 Extraordinary Session),’ which repeals Missouri’s existing congressional plan, and replaces it with new congressional boundaries that keep more counties intact?
State and local government entities estimate no costs or savings.
A ‘yes’ vote will approve the act of the General Assembly entitled ‘House Bill No. 1 (2025 Extraordinary Session),’ which redraws the congressional district boundaries.
A ‘no’ vote will leave in place the congressional district boundaries enacted in 2022.”
Julia Williams — a Kansas City native — is a reporter and digital producer for The Labor Beacon. A University of Missouri School of Journalism alumna, she previously served as the editor-in-chief of The Northeast News before joining The Labor Beacon staff.
Williams’s grandfather was a Claycomo Ford Motor Company retiree and avid UAW Local 249 supporter, allowing her to understand the union difference from a young age.
In her free time, Williams enjoys spending time with her family, traveling to see her friends and hanging out at home with her cat, Greta. She loves a good cup of coffee, seeing local, live music and shopping secondhand. With a passion for storytelling, she hopes to bring her knowledge of journalistic integrity to the Kansas City union community — giving union and labor workers a voice, while holding people in powerful positions accountable.
