A group of Missouri voters has filed a petition with more than 300,000 signatures calling for a referendum that they hope will block a redistricting plan favorable to Republicans.
The group, known as People Not Politicians Missouri, filed the petition with the Secretary of State’s office on Dec. 9. Under state law, about 110,000 signatures are required to force a vote on the redistricting plan, which was enacted by the Legislature through a bill, H.B. 1, and signed into law on Sept. 28.
The new district plan, backed by President Donald Trump, would give Republican candidates an advantage in the 2026 midterm elections for House seats. Currently, of the state’s eight U.S. representatives, two are Democrats—Rep. Wesley Bell from the First District, covering St. Louis, and Rep. Emmanuel Cleaver from the Fifth District, covering Kansas City, with the changes most affecting Cleaver’s seat.
