COLE COUNTY, Mo. — A Cole County judge ruled in favor of Missouri Secretary of State Dennis “Denny” Hoskins (R) on Aug. 19 in a lawsuit regarding Amendment 6, which People Not Politicians filed on Aug. 4.
A process, which began over a year ago among People Not Politicians — a statewide political advocacy nonprofit — and Respect Missouri (MO) Voters — an organization centered around upholding Missouri’s initiative petition process — who worked to gather signatures in opposition to Missouri House Bill 1 (HB 1), or the Missouri First Map, by a May 3 deadline.
While the nonprofits individually gathered over 300,000 signatures, respectively and returned them to Hoskins office in observance of the required timeframe, Hoskins announced in a press conference on Aug. 4 that this process was unconstitutional — in not that the organizations did not collect enough signatures, but that the referendum on Missouri House Bill 1, which the organizations were working to achieve, was unconstitutional; additionally stating that the dates for submission and review were insufficient.
Following this press conference, People Not Politicians filed a lawsuit against the Missouri Secretary of State, seeking to uphold the Missouri initiative petition process.
“Before any signatures were gathered, Amendment 6 went through the required process and was approved for circulation; more than 2,000 volunteers then worked across Missouri to collect more than 367,000 signatures from Missourians who wanted the opportunity to have their voices heard on this measure,” Respect MO Voters Co-Founder, Benjamin Singer said in a social media post. “Missourians across the required congressional districts participated in the process; they signed a petition because they believed voters should have the opportunity to decide for themselves.”
While this case went before Missouri’s 19th Judicial Circuit Court on Aug. 19, Judge Daniel Green ruled in favor of Hoskins, finding that Amendment 6 violated the Missouri Constitution.
“Instead of addressing a single subject, tied to a single article in the Missouri Constitution, Initiative 2026-106 makes sweeping reforms affecting multiple provisions of the Missouri Constitution,” Green stated in his judgment.
Hoskins spoke out afterward, expressing his gratitude toward the judge’s decision as well as Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway (R) and Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe (R) for their support.
“I am pleased Judge Green upheld my determination of insufficiency on proposed Amendment 6; I remain committed to honoring my oath to protect the Missouri Constitution,” Hoskins said in a social media post. “Federal law is very clear that the Missouri Constitution cannot be interpreted to strip the General Assembly of its authority to conduct redistricting of congressional maps.”
Following the conclusion of this court hearing, People Not Politicians appealed Green’s decision to the Western District Court of Appeals. However, the case was picked up and transferred to the Missouri Supreme Court.
“While we are disappointed in the decision of Judge Green, this is not the final step in the judicial process,” People Not Politicians wrote in a social media post on Aug. 20.
“Missourians have the right to amend our constitution by initiative petition. The Respect Missouri Voters Amendment is limited to one subject and one article; we believe every necessary legal action should be taken to defend Missouri voters from the Secretary of State’s unprecedented abuse of power,” Missouri AFL-CIO President Jake Hummel said in a public statement.
On Sept. 2, this case will go before the Missouri Supreme Court in Jefferson City, Mo. People not Politicians shared in a social media post they plan to hold a rally outside the courthouse during the hearing.
Final decisions on Amendment 6 must conclude by Sept. 8 — the deadline to add measures to November Missouri ballots.
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.
