“…We are extremely disappointed in today’s decision by unelected judges…”
Mike Kehoe (r) [2026 file photo].
A few hours ago:
Governor Mike Kehoe
[September 3, 2026]
Nearly one year ago, the General Assembly, duly elected by the people of Missouri, convened in an extraordinary session to draw a new congressional map that better represents Missouri and the commonsense values that define our state.
We are extremely disappointed in today’s decision by unelected judges and their lack of respect for the legislative process. Holding a primary election under one congressional map and a general election under another is unprecedented and creates uncertainty for Missouri voters.
Today’s ruling does not change our belief in the Missouri First Map or the principles behind it, and we will continue to stand behind it as the legal process moves forward.
Uh:
Judge W. Brent Powell [Chief Justice]
Retained in office at the November 2018 general election for a 12-year term expiring December 31, 2030
Judge Ginger K. Gooch
Retained at the November 2024 general election for a 12-year term
Judge Kelly C. Broniec
Retained at November 2024 general election for a 12-year term
Judge Mary R. Russell
Retained in office at the November 2006 general election and again at the November 2018 general election for a 12-year term expiring December 31, 2030
Judge Paul C. Wilson
Retained by voters at the November 2014 general election for a 12-year term ending December 31, 2026
Judge Robin Ransom
Retained by voters at the November 2022 general election for a 12-year term ending December 31, 2034
Judge Zel M. Fischer
Retained at the 2010 general election for a 12-year term expiring December 31, 2022; retained at the 2022 general election for a 12-year term expiring December 31, 2034
[emphasis added]
All seven have stood for retention by Missouri voters in general elections.
Some of the responses to Gov. Mike Kehoe (r):
Y’all caused this mess. Cry in your beer. 🍺
Why do you hate the initiative process?
You should be ashamed
Nearly one year ago, Trump also asked Indiana Republican leaders to redistrict out of cycle to draw new maps to favor electing additional Republicans to Congress this fall. The Indiana Senate said “No”. But clearly Missouri officials feel obligated to play Trump’s game out to the bitter end. It’s perhaps a bit ironic that the delaying tactics of Hoskins now hinder the last gasps of this gambit.
Heh.
Isn’t our attorney general an unelected official?
Catherine Hanaway (r) [2015 file photo].
Well, yes.
I’d honestly believe that Kehoe doesn’t know.
I suppose if a majority of Missouri citizens don’t want to allow the map in 2026 that would be called democracy governor.
It’s as if the judicial branch of government is balancing out the legislative… as intended. Odd.
Executive, Legislative, Judicial. The State Constitution does this for a reason.
Governor, this wasn’t judicial defiance. It was a unanimous ruling enforcing Missouri’s Constitution: the legislature may draw maps, but voters still retain the referendum power over acts of the General Assembly. The court found this petition legal, sufficient, and timely, and ordered the 2022 map used unless voters approve the new one. Disagree with the ruling if you want—but don’t confuse constitutional limits on your power with disrespect for democracy.
Imagine being an elected official being mad about the will of the people being heard.
If the state has roughly a 60-40 split between R and D voters, how is 7-1 more fair than 6 – 2? If you truly wanted a more fair representation based on the percentages, a 5 – 3 map would be a more equitable distribution.
Bingo!
They didn’t gerrymander a new map at the request of the people, they did so it at the request of a man who they do not serve and should have no connection to. The state of Missouri is an independent state within this nation, and the legislature doesn’t work for or answer to Trump. Unfortunately, the MAGA cult takes oaths they intend to break, and they pretend like them getting elected is permission to do whatever they want. You are among the MAGA cult, and you show contempt for Missourians every time you try to undermine our will. You’ve betrayed Missouri citizens in an attempt to push your beliefs on others, and you lost. Now you want to denigrate people and throw a temper tantrum instead of admitting you were wrong.
Governor, per the Missouri Plan of 1940, we the voters, vote to retain our MOSC justices.
Bingo!
Respect the vote of the people!
How did you get through that whole essay without the word “gerrymandering”?
We see what you did there.
Perhaps, it’s time for our Governor AND the State Legislature to start listening to the voters instead of dictating to us!
Yeah dude, everybody was clamoring for the general assembly to pass gerrymandering legislation out of nowhere.
This is a pretty remarkable rewriting of what happened. The map wasn’t redrawn because Missouri suddenly needed better representation or “common sense values.” It was a partisan effort to redraw congressional districts mid-decade for political advantage. Courts doing their job and reviewing whether that process complied with the law isn’t a “lack of respect” for democracy. It’s part of democracy.
Maybe because everyone, red and blue deserve representation. Missouri isn’t a red state, it isn’t a blue state. We are purple. No matter what side missourians sit on they believe that everyone in the state deserves representation.
Keeping power with the people, not politicians! Sounds like a good ruling to me!
Today’s ruling was a win for the people of Missouri!
Should have been pretty clear to you when THE PEOPLE voted against Amendents 4 and 5. The Supreme Court did the right thing.
LOL. You should read the ruling! 😎The legal process moved certainly!
OUR voices will be HEARD. The court got this right. The people should decide this. Kehoe is pissed because he knows we will shoot this ridiculous map down. We’ll see just how much Missouri voters want change in November. 🤞
Bro it was unanimous get a grip. The law is the law.
So, there’s this thing called the Constitution…
Perhaps the legislature should consider respecting the will of the people. Read the room, man.
Common sense is listening to the people of the state…something you repeatedly ignore.
Missouri Supreme Court says you have to listen to the voters. Boohoo.
Governor, you say these are unelected justices. However, isn’t your office the one that chooses a replacement when there is an opening? After a selection process to three from an impartial state commission? Oh, and after a year on the bench, they are voted to be retained by the people. Take responsibility for your office.
No one even thought about changing the map until Trump told them to.
Unelected judges”? They literally enforced the voter-approved Missouri Constitution against politicians who tried to ignore a citizen referendum. But tell us more about “respecting the process.”
Get it through your head. You work for the people, and the people have spoken.
You do know the definition of “extraordinary,” right?
4 and 5. Now this. Rough summer gov.
Heh.
Sometimes, when you try to cheat, you get caught.
The judicial branch is a necessary system of checks and balances for the legislative branch . Deal with it.
Aren’t Missouri Supreme Court justices retained after their first year by a public vote, for a 12-year term that is then again voted for retention? They may not be elected, but they are on the bench by the will of the people.
I wish I could of been in the room when Catherine Hanaways head exploded when she got this news Governor Mike Kehoe is the the find out stage of FAFO. That map wasn’t some routine redraw. Kehoe backed a special session at Trump’s request for one reason: knock Emanuel Cleaver out of Congress. You built your whole strategy on a map that hadn’t even cleared legal review, ran a primary on it anyway, and now you’re calling the correction a “constitutional crisis.” It’s not a crisis. It’s consequences.
300,000+ signatures isn’t noise. That’s an organized coalition, and it’s the same one that’ll be showing up in 2028 remembering exactly whose names were on this.
You lost in a unanimous decision. Respect the Missouri Constitution and our government. 5 of those 7 judges were appointed by Republican governors.
Learn how to take a _self inflicted_ L.
You should be embarrassed at how poorly Denny handled this. You should be embarrassed how bad your efforts to undo the will of the citizens you are supposed to represent have turned out.
Governor, it’s interesting that you emphasize that the General Assembly was “duly elected by the people of Missouri” while complaining about a unanimous court decision protecting those same people’s constitutional right to a referendum.
The legislature passed the map. Missourians gathered the signatures necessary to challenge it. Now Missourians get to vote on it.
That’s not disrespect for the legislative process. That’s the constitutional process.
If the Missouri First Map really represents the “commonsense values” of Missourians as well as you say it does, then you shouldn’t have anything to fear from letting Missourians decide.
Your losing battle with reason continues to go poorly for you.
Ouch.
You don’t represent us. Look how strongly you pushed 4 and 5 that NO ONE wanted! You’re out of touch, bought out, and your positions are morally reprehensible. Stop trying to screw up Missouri more than it already is.
Kind of how you respected the will of Missouri voters? .. Oh wait.
Here’s a thought. Have better policies and you won’t have to gerrymander.
Aw, the supreme Court said you couldn’t rig elections😢😢
You seem like you’re worried about the upcoming election. Hmmm. Anyway.
What did everyone have for dinner tonight?
A “Constitutional crisis” of your own making because Hoskins refused to certify the signatures collected for the petition initiative. So, put the blame where it belongs…on Hoskins.
Is it just my imagination or have you been losing a lot lately Guv?
You’re trying to finagle another seat for Trump. Don’t make it anything but what it actually is.
The Supreme Court did the job that you, the General Assembly, and the Secretary of State refused to do: They recognized a threat to democracy and the GOP’s utter disdain for Missouri voters. This is the best thing to happen to Missouri in years.
The Missouri Constitution is quite clear. The power of the Legislature is from the people, not the reverse. The Constitution clearly gives the people the power to override laws approved by the Legislature via the Initiative Process. We are only in this situation because the GOP SOS failed to do his job and sat on this. Then on primary day, he states that the amendment was unconstitutional. Under the Missouri Constitution, for which he swore an oath before God to uphold, he has no such power. And the Constitutional duty he has, he failed to perform. As the Supreme Court stated in their decision, we are only n this situation because he delayed performing his Constitutional duty.
Governor High School telling judges about the law. You can’t make this up. 🤡
Suddenly the States Rights people have a problem with States Rights.
hey Governor, have you not heard of the Missouri plan? It’s a roadmap that the rest of the United States follow. You don’t like it?
And on and on….
Previously:
HB 1: Gerrymander this (September 9, 2025)
Can play with AI, can’t be bothered to certify petition signatures (June 7, 2026)
Denny Hoskins (r) is a pre-eminent legal scholar and final arbiter of the Missouri Constitution, said no one ever… (August 4, 2026)
Missouri Supreme Court: “HB 1 congressional redistricting, yeah, no.” (September 3, 2026)
Favorite whine (September 3, 2026)
