State challenge to Secretary of State’s determination of insufficiency for referendum signatures, which determined that the referendum would violate the state and federal constitutions.

On Aug. 19, 2026, the trial court rejected the challenge, finding that congressional maps in Missouri are not subject to referendum.  It construed the U.S. Constitution’s Elections Clause to require a clear statement under state law clearly subjecting a congressional map drawn by the legislature to a referendum, and found that the general provision for refendum in the state constitution therefore was not a sufficiently clear statement; it also construed the federal Guarantee Clause as precluding referenda in this context; and found an exemption from referendum in the constitutional provisions around state legislative maps to apply to congressional maps as well.  The Missouri Supreme Court has taken jurisdiction of the appeal, pursuant to an expedited schedule.