Missouri Election Chief Blocks Ballot Referendum on Trump-Backed Congressional Map

Missouri’s secretary of state rejected a citizen petition to force a statewide referendum on the GOP-drawn U.S. House map, ruling that congressional redistricting cannot be subject to a public vote. Supporters plan legal challenges and had submitted signatures that qualified under state rules, but the decision effectively allows the new districts to be used in primaries. The secretary also rejected a separate measure to strengthen the initiative process. The dispute adds to the nation’s mid-decade redistricting battles and could spill into the 2026 elections.