A grassroots campaign in Missouri is working to repeal a new congressional map passed by Republicans in mid-September, which was designed to give the party an additional seat in the US House of Representatives. The map, signed into law by Governor Mike Kehoe, would replace the Kansas City district of Democratic Representative Emanuel Cleaver with a Republican-leaning one.
Jill Imbler, a 69-year-old retired teacher's aide and president of the Randolph County Democrat Club, is among those collecting signatures to trigger a citizens' veto, a provision in the Missouri constitution since 1908. If more than 106,000 valid signatures are turned in by 11 December, the map will be suspended until a referendum in 2026. Organisers say they have already gathered over 200,000 signatures.
The effort is part of a broader redistricting battle ahead of the 2026 midterms, with Republicans aiming to gain seats in Missouri, Texas, and North Carolina. Outside groups have raised around $7 million on both sides, including funds from national Republicans opposing the repeal. Imbler, motivated by frustration at lawmakers' moves to weaken voter-approved ballot measures on abortion and the minimum wage, has been canvassing door-to-door in her Republican-leaning town of Moberly.
