Court battle over whether referendum on congressional maps is constitutional starts Wednesday

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

People Not Politicians and Secretary of State Denny Hoskins are going back to court Wednesday over a referendum to get Missouri's 2025 congressional map on the ballot as the deadline to add anything to the November ballot is about a month away.

The two sides are expected to set a schedule for the case to move forward as the November election approaches. The judge will also take up a request by the Republican National Committee to intervene in the case.

People Not Politicians, the group backing the referendum, argues Hoskins is wrong to call their referendum unconstitutional and asks Cole County Judge Daniel Green to reverse the decision.

Hoskins waited until the last day permitted by law to announce his decision on the referendum. He has been a strong supporter of the 2025 map, also called the "Missouri First" map, since lawmakers passed the map in a special session nearly a year ago.

Hoskins, backed in court by the attorney general, argues Missouri law doesn't allow a referendum on congressional maps.

People Not Politicians submitted their referendum to the secretary of state and started gathering signatures soon after the General Assembly approved the map, as lawsuits challenging mid-decade redistricting were filed in Cole County to block the map from going into effect.

The last day to add anything to the November ballot is Sept. 8, and the Missouri Supreme Court is expecting this case to reach the high court.

Chief Justice Brent Powell sent a letter to Green, asking the lower court to hold a quick trial and make a speedy decision.

"Following any entry of judgment in this matter, it must be assumed one or more parties will exercise their right to appeal," Powell wrote. "Accordingly, the matter must be handled expeditiously to ensure sufficient time for expedited appellate review to be completed."

People Not Politicians also has to win against the Republican National Committee, an intervenor and interested party in this case.

According to court documents, the RNC is invested in making sure its candidates make it to Congress.

The 2025 congressional map is likely to turn over Democrat Emanuel Cleaver's seat representing District 5, which covered much of Kansas City under the old map, to a Republican. Cleaver is now running against Republican State Sen. Rick Brattin.

Check back for updates.