密苏里州共和党籍州务卿丹尼·霍斯金斯驳回了一项要求对特朗普支持的新国会选区进行全州公投的公民请愿[1]。支持者已提交超过30万份签名，远超列入选票所需的约111,000份[1]。霍斯金斯在允许的最后期限宣布拒绝此请愿，理由是国会选区重划根据美国和密苏里州宪法不受公投约束[1]。推动该公投的组织已表示将向法院提起诉讼[1]。
霍斯金斯的决定使新选区能够在此期间继续使用[1]。新地图将民主党人长期代表埃马努埃尔·克利弗控制的第5国会选区从堪萨斯城伸延至中部农村地区，使其倾向共和党[1]。密苏里州是继德州后第二个响应特朗普呼吁重划选区的共和党主导州[1]。共和党已控制密苏里州8个国会席位中的6个，希望根据新地图再获得一个[1]。密苏里州的重划计划在过去一年中已引发约12起诉讼[1]。
Missouri's Republican Secretary of State Danny Hoskins has rejected a citizens' petition seeking a statewide referendum on newly drawn congressional districts backed by former President Donald Trump.[1] Supporters submitted more than 300,000 petition signatures, surpassing the approximately 111,000 signatures needed to place the measure on the ballot.[1]
Hoskins announced his rejection at the final allowable deadline, enabling the new districts to take effect during this period.[1] The secretary of state argued that the petition violates the state and federal constitutions, contending that congressional redistricting cannot be subject to a public referendum.[1] He had previously filed a request with federal court to block the petition on the same constitutional grounds.[1] The organizations pushing for the referendum have indicated they will pursue legal action in court to challenge the decision.
The new congressional map extends Missouri's 5th district, long represented by Democrat Emanuel Cleaver, from Kansas City into central rural areas, making it more favorable to Republicans.[1] Republicans already control six of Missouri's eight congressional seats and seek to gain another under the revised map.[1] Missouri has become the second Republican-led state to respond to Trump's call for district redrawing, following Texas.[1] The redistricting effort has already generated approximately twelve lawsuits over the past year.[1]