Missouri voters turned out in large numbers for the primary election, overwhelmingly rejecting top Republican priorities at the ballot box. Voters split the ticket on statewide issues, approving Amendments 1 and 2 while resoundingly saying no to Amendments 4 and 5. Amendments 4 and 5 were rejected by 80% of voters, and every single county rejected the pair.
Reaction to the Results
Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe and Missouri Promise, the political action committee sponsoring the campaigns for Amendments 4 and 5, expressed disappointment with the results but said that the work to cut taxes is far from over. Meanwhile, representatives from the American Civil Liberties Union, labor groups, the Missouri Budget Project, the Realtors and Parents for Missouri Public Schools celebrated, crediting their collaboration for the defeat of Amendments 4 and 5.
Missouri Jobs with Justice Executive Director Caitlyn Adams said, “We certainly had over a dozen organizations that were participating in voter engagement work, talking to voters based on the relationships that they had and who people trusted to hear from.” Adams added that the coalition should go into the November elections making sure people know which politicians have been undermining their will and create consequences for them at the ballot box.
Secretary of State’s Decision
Secretary of State Denny Hoskins claimed that an initiative petition to place the Republican-backed “Missouri First” map on the November ballot was unconstitutional. The map, which split Kansas City into three congressional districts and was used to draw boundaries for the August primary, would remain in place, he said.
Hoskins also announced that he had ruled Respect MO Voter’s initiative petition 2026-16 — which would have prevented lawmakers from weakening the initiative petition process and from overturning citizen-led measures after passage — to be insufficient because it violated the single-subject rule and the U.S. and Missouri constitutions.
Original reporting: The Beacon (Kansas City) — read the source article.
