People Not Politicians considers appealing Cole County judge’s ballot language for HB 1
Alison Patton
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The group People Not Politicians is considering appealing a decision by a Cole County judge to rewrite ballot language that would ask voters to approve the 2025 congressional map, known as House Bill 1.
People Not Politicians challenged the ballot summary that Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins wrote, arguing the language was unfair and biased.
Judge Brian Stumpe agreed that some, but not all, of the language Hoskins used was unfair after the Hoskins admitted to writing unfair language that he originally approved.
The original language reads:
“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 gerrymandered congressional plan that protects incumbent politicians, and replaces it with new congressional boundaries that keep more cities and counties intact, are more compact, and better reflects statewide voting patterns?
In the new summary that Stumpe wrote, he took out the words “gerrymandered,” “that protects incumbent politicians,” and “better reflects statewide voting patterns.”
Attorney General Catherine Hanaway posted on X a few hours after the decision, saying it’s “GREAT” for Missourians.
Today’s ruling by Judge Stumpe regarding the Missouri FIRST Map is a GREAT win for Missourians. Although certification has yet to be determined, the court rightly recognized that the Missouri FIRST Map splits fewer counties and municipalities, and is thus more compact than the…
— Attorney General Catherine L. Hanaway (@AGCHanaway) March 21, 2026
ABC 17 News reached out to Hoskins’ office for comment, but he was not immediately available.
The new ballot summary now reads:
“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 congressional plan, and replaces it with new congressional boundaries that keep more cities and counties intact, and are more compact?”
Richard von Glahn, Executive Director of People Not Politicians, said he disagrees with calling the 2025 congressional districts compact.
“You can’t have something that says every district is more compact because that would mean the entire state has shrunk, and to my knowledge, that hasn’t happened,” von Glahn said. “I think that the language is still inaccurate, and as I mentioned, we haven’t made a decision as to whether or not we will appeal.”
Stumpe didn’t indicate which map is currently in effect or if the referendum freezes the 2022 map in place until voters can decide.
Stumpe is also currently considering a different case filed by plaintiffs Jake Maggard and Gregg Lombardi that would provide an answer.
von Glahn said Stumpe’s decision in the People Not Politicians case could be a tell for how the Maggard case might play out.
“The state has been arguing that the gerrymandered map, House Bill 1, is already in effect, but this language says a ‘yes’ vote on House Bill 1 would repeal Missouri’s congressional map and replace it with new congressional boundaries,” von Glahn said.