Missouri Proposition A: Congressional map referendum
What it does. Missouri’s legislature passed a new congressional district map in 2025, and voters collected signatures to put it to a referendum. Voting on it does not change the districts used in the November 2026 election. Proposition A decides which map applies beginning with the 2028 election: the 2025 map, or the 2022 map now in use. The largest changes would be around Kansas City. [1] [2] [3]
Official ballot question. Do the people of the state of Missouri approve the act of the General Assembly entitled “House Bill No. 1 (2025 Second Extraordinary Session),” which repeals Missouri’s existing congressional plan, and replaces it with new congressional boundaries that keep more counties intact? [1]
If you vote yes
A “yes” vote will approve the act of the General Assembly entitled “House Bill No. 1 (2025 Extraordinary Session),” which redraws the congressional district boundaries. [1]
If you vote no
A “no” vote will leave in place the congressional district boundaries enacted in 2022. [1]
What it would cost
The official ballot title says: “State and local governmental entities estimate no costs or savings.” The fair ballot language says: “If passed, this measure will have no impact on taxes.” [1]
Both sides
Strongest case for
Supporters say the map is more compact and keeps communities together. In the Missouri House committee summary, proponents said the map “is more compact and splits fewer municipalities than the current map” and “keeps each congressperson’s address within the district that person currently represents.” [5]
The Put Missouri First campaign makes the same case. Spokesman Michael Hafner told the Missouri Independent that “Prop A deserves Missourians’ support because it delivers a practical, commonsense map that respects more community boundaries throughout our state.” U.S. Rep. Bob Onder said that under the old map both St. Charles and Warren counties are split, “whereas they’re whole under the new map.” [2] [3]
Supporters also argue the map better reflects the state. Gov. Mike Kehoe said the legislature drew it “because they thought it represented us better,” and Rep. Onder said it “does more represent Missouri in that it has that partisan composition of sending seven Republicans and one Democrat to Congress.” [3]
Strongest case against
Opponents say politicians should not pick their voters. Richard von Glahn, executive director of People Not Politicians, said, “People should pick our politicians,” and “Politicians shouldn’t pick their voters.” He argues the map would weaken the voices of Kansas City residents, noting that one dividing line follows Troost Avenue, long associated with racial segregation. [2]
They say the redraw was done for partisan advantage outside the normal cycle. In the House committee summary, opponents said the map is “an illegal gerrymander” that “divides communities only for partisan gain.” U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D) called it a “mid-decade gerrymandering scheme.” [5] [4]
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch editorial board, which opposes Proposition A, wrote that redistricting “historically has coincided with new census data every 10 years” and that this redraw was not that. [4]
What neither side is saying
Context that bears on what this measure does or who it affects but that the arguments above do not address. These are sourced facts, not arguments for or against the measure.
- Neither outcome changes this year’s districts. The U.S. Supreme Court ordered Missouri to use its 2022 map in November 2026. Proposition A decides the map for 2028 onward, and the Missouri Independent reports that even if voters reject it, Republican legislators have signaled interest in another redistricting attempt in 2027. [2]
- The official ballot wording does not describe the partisan effect. The Missouri Independent notes that the official ballot description “emphasizes that the new map would keep more counties intact” but “does not mention the plan’s potential to give Republicans another congressional seat.” The same report says that under the 2025 boundaries the 5th District would change from one Kamala Harris carried with about 61% in 2024 to one Donald Trump carried with about 58%. [2]
Editorial context, not the opinion of We Elect. Each point is a fact we found in a source we opened and read; where sources disagree or data are missing, we say so. How we choose these.
Follow the money
Contributions reported by committees registered to support or oppose Proposition A. Major donors are those who gave $100,000 or more; where fewer than three did, up to five of the largest listed donors giving $5,000 or more are shown.
Supporting (Yes)
Total raised $3,114,012
Committee
- Put Missouri First $3,114,012
Major donors
| American Action Network | $1,450,000 |
| Securing American Greatness Inc. | $1,450,000 |
| Republican National Committee | $164,012 |
Donors shown gave 98% of this side’s total.
Opposing (No)
Total raised $13,586,070
Committee
- People Not Politicians $13,586,070
Major donors
| The Fairness Project | $3,485,000 |
| American Opportunity Action | $2,000,000 |
| Health Forward Foundation | $1,300,000 |
| Green Advocacy Project | $1,000,000 |
| Reid Hoffman | $1,000,000 |
| Global Impact Social Welfare Fund | $500,000 |
| Think Big America | $500,000 |
| United Futures | $500,000 |
| Open Society Action Fund | $450,000 |
| Tides Foundation | $350,000 |
Donors shown gave 82% of this side’s total.
Reported contributions through Oct. 22, 2026, as compiled by Ballotpedia from state filings; the source lists each side’s top donors, not every donor. Figures are reported contributions and may be updated as new reports are filed. Amounts are rounded to the nearest dollar. Official filings: Missouri Ethics Commission, campaign finance search.
Sources
- 2026 Ballot Measures (official ballot titles and fair ballot language) — Missouri Secretary of State (Official state ballot language, accessed 2026-10-28)
- Missouri congressional map fight reaches voters as Republican campaign goes quiet — Missouri Independent (News report (nonprofit newsroom), 2026-10-27)
- Proposition A will determine fate of Missouri’s Trump-backed congressional map — St. Louis Public Radio (News report (public radio), 2026-10-26)
- Missouri Proposition A, Congressional Map Referendum (2026) — Ballotpedia (Reference (quotes supporters and opponents), accessed 2026-10-28)
- HB 1 (2025 Second Extraordinary Session) committee summary of proponents’ and opponents’ testimony — Missouri House of Representatives (Official legislative summary, 2025)
Editorial summary of arguments made by others, not the opinion of We Elect. Last reviewed 2026-10-28. How we write both sides.
We Elect is a Brunner Creative site. Editorial summary of arguments made by others, not the opinion of We Elect. Each side is written to be the strongest case its supporters would recognize, and every claim is tied to a source we opened and read.