Judge accepts NAACP lawsuit against state as advocacy group petitions against redistricting
Marie Moyer
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
Advocacy groups are taking two routes to block potential redistricting, which was approved Friday by Missouri’s general assembly and is awaiting Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe’s signature.
The NAACP sued Kehoe, Senate Pro-Tem Cindy O’Laughlin (R-Shelbina) and Speaker of the House Jon Patterson (R-Lees Summit) around the start of the special session earlier this month, arguing that the special session and redistricting were unconstitutional and a waste of taxpayers’ money.
The group plans to push on with the lawsuit. Court documents allege Kehoe’s actions to call the special session were unconstitutional since redistricting wasn’t an eligible reason to call an extraordinary session.
“COVID, COVID is extraordinary, right? There’s been a devastating storm that wiped out half the state a la St. Louis or Joplin, Right? That’s extraordinary,” Attorney Nimrod Chapel Jr., representing the NAACP, said. “The idea that there may be a lawsuit one day brought by somebody, and we can’t identify anybody doing any of the above is anything but extraordinary; it’s ordinary.”
The group also claims Kehoe overstepped his bounds as governor by calling the special session to change legislation, which goes against the executive branch’s responsibility to carry out laws and not create them.
“If he signs it, then we have a measure that’s been passed in violation of the Constitution that is critically important, and it doesn’t matter what party you are, if you’re a voting person in this state, it’s important to stop that,” Chapel said.
The attorneys representing the state declined to comment. However, they did argue that Kehoe was within his rights to call a special session and that several arguments from the NAACP were irrelevant since the session ended, adding that the money had already been spent and lawmakers had returned home.
If signed by Kehoe, the new congressional map will be in place for the 2026 election. This will reduce Missouri’s Democrat congressional seats from two to one.
At the end of the special session on Friday, the advocacy group People Not Politicians sent in a referendum petition request to the Attorney General’s office. The group has until Dec. 11 to get signatures equal to 5% of the last governor’s race turnout in at least six of Missouri’s eight congressional districts.
Courtesy: People Not Politicians
People Not Politicians began collecting signatures for the referendum petition on Monday and are confident they can make the tight deadline, adding that more than 800 people across the state are helping with petitioning.
“On the abortion campaign, in less than three months, we collected over 380,000 signatures,” Tori Schafer, Director of Policy and Campaigns of the ACLU of Missouri, said. “It’s Democrats, Republicans, independents, regardless of political party, people are excited to collect on this.”
Referendum petitions are similar to initiative petitions and require approval by the attorney general. Signatures are later verified by the Secretary of State, who writes how the petition will appear on the 2026 ballot for voters if enough signatures are collected. Signatures can be collected in advance before the attorney general’s approval.
“Missourians should pick our elected officials. Elected officials shouldn’t pick who they wish to represent in Missouri.” Richard Von Glahn, executive director of People Not Politicians, said. “The people that are going to put this issue on the ballot are Missourians and then the people that are going to have the final say on this are Missourians.”
Cole County Judge Christopher Limbaugh accepted both the NAACP suit and the state’s motion to dismiss the case on Monday. Future court dates have not been set.