Elections
Missouri governor calls lawmakers back to Capitol to gerrymander congressional map
Missouri lawmakers will return to the Capitol next week to gerrymander the state’s congressional map in the hopes of creating a new Republican seat. They will also debate putting a constitutional amendment on the 2026 ballot that would make it harder for voters to change the constitution through the initiative petition process. Both proposals were […]
Lawsuits challenge ‘deceptive’ summaries for Missouri public education ballot measures
Two initiative petition campaigns seeking constitutional protections for public education are suing Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins alleging he crafted “deceptive and prejudicial” summaries that will appear on the ballot. One campaign, called “the Missouri Right to Education Initiative,” hopes to amend the state constitution to declare education a “fundamental right.” The other, filed […]
Missouri voters expanded paid sick leave. The GOP undid it, and the repeal just took effect
Andi Phillips has never really had the option of being sick. A server at a Springfield-area restaurant, the single mother of four finally has a job allowing her to financially support her family. But if she or one of her children falls ill, that financial security goes out the window. “When you miss a shift, […]
Missouri judge weighing whether new abortion ban should appear on 2026 ballot
A Cole County judge heard arguments Wednesday over whether a proposed ban on abortion set to go to voters next year should be thrown out or revised over a provision targeting gender-affirming care for minors. The ACLU of Missouri believes the proposal, which was drafted by state lawmakers, violates the state constitution because it includes […]
As Democrats fight ‘fire with fire,’ gerrymandering opponents seek a path forward
When California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled his plan to retaliate if Republican-led Texas redrew its congressional districts to favor the GOP, he affirmed his support for less partisan maps — and then promised to “meet fire with fire.” “We’re doing it mindful that we want to model better behavior,” Newsom told reporters in Los […]
Turnover among election officials reaches new high, report finds
Election officials turned over at the highest rate in at least a quarter century during the last presidential election, according to new research from the Bipartisan Policy Center. An analysis of shifts in election officials published Tuesday found nearly 41% of election officials administering the 2024 election were different than those in 2020. Turnover has […]
Missouri governor won’t confirm redistricting, but Republicans say it’s likely
Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe still hasn’t confirmed whether he’ll call a special session to change the state’s congressional map, but Republican lawmakers who’ve spoken to the governor say it’s very possible. State lawmakers and officials gathered in Sedalia on Thursday morning for the annual Governor’s Ham Breakfast. Planned remarks from the podium focused on celebrating […]
Trump wants states to feed voter info into powerful citizenship data program
BILOXI, Miss. — The Trump administration is developing a powerful data tool it claims will let states identify noncitizens registered to vote. But Democratic critics and data experts warn it could allow the federal government to vacuum up vast quantities of information on Americans for unclear purposes. Some Democratic election officials and opponents of the […]
Missouri House Republicans receive $25,000 donation from Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs donated $25,000 on Tuesday to a political action committee supporting Republican candidates for the Missouri House. The donation, the first major contribution the team made in Missouri this year, comes roughly two months after the legislature approved a $1.5 billion stadium funding plan aimed at convincing the Chiefs and Royals to […]
Black Missouri lawmakers vow to resist Missouri GOP push for new congressional districts
Black leaders in the Missouri legislature said Thursday that they will fight any attempt to redraw the state’s congressional districts, pointing to the courts as the venue where they have greatest hopes to prevail. State Rep. Michael Johnson, a Kansas City Democrat who chairs the Legislative Black Caucus, said any effort to remake maps is […]
Justice Department demand for state voter lists underscores their importance
Alabama resident Roald Hazelhoff treasures his newly won right to vote. When election officials flagged the naturalized U.S. citizen’s voter registration for possible removal last August, the Dutch native fought back. Hazelhoff, then a 67-year-old college instructor, sued to stop Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen, a Republican, from seeking to kick him and more […]
Missouri Senate leader says special session is ‘likely’ to redraw congressional map
Momentum is building for a special session of the Missouri Legislature to redraw the state’s eight congressional districts with the aim of gaining a seat for Republicans. Democrats will fight it, but a united Republican majority with more than two-thirds of the seats in both chambers can force it through if they wish. Missouri Senate […]