US Edition
Missouri court says new Trump-backed US House districts are in effect ahead of midterm elections
Judge Stumpe ruled the map stays effective until the Secretary of State certifies petition signatures; over 300,000 signatures were submitted for referendum verification.
- On Friday, Cole County Circuit Judge Brian Stumpe ruled Missouri's new congressional map remains in effect, rejecting arguments that submitting referendum signatures automatically suspends the law.
- People Not Politicians submitted more than 300,000 petition signatures on December 9, 2025, contending the delivery of nearly 700 boxes should have immediately blocked the map under over 100 years of referendum precedent.
- Stumpe wrote that suspension requires Secretary of State Denny Hoskins to certify signature sufficiency, stating verification processes prevent abuse of the referendum process.
- This ruling bolsters GOP efforts to add a congressional seat by making Missouri's 5th District significantly more difficult for Democratic Congressman Emanuel Cleaver to hold in November midterms.
- The ACLU of Missouri vowed to appeal the decision, while local authorities must complete signature verification by July 28, with Secretary Hoskins determining ballot sufficiency before the August 4 primary.
54 Articles
54 Articles
Tulsa World
Judge OKs new Mo. map for November midterms
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — New U.S. House districts in Missouri backed by President Donald Trump can be used ahead of the midterm elections, despite a potential voter referendum, a judge ruled Friday.
Columbia Missourian
Webster County CitizenJudge keeps new congressional map in effect
Cole County Judge Brian Stumpe ruled new congressional districts will be in use until signature verification is complete.
Judge keeps Missouri’s new congressional map in effect despite referendum campaign
Cole County Circuit Court Judge Brian Stumpe ruled Friday that Missouri's gerrymandered congressional district map will be in effect until signature verification is complete. (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent).Submitting signatures to force a referendum on a state law is not enough to suspend a new state law, a Cole County judge ruled Friday in a decision that means Missouri’s gerrymandered congressional map is in effect. The referendum pet…
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