Missouri Voters Sue Over Gerrymander Referendum | St. Louis News

Five Missouri voters are suing Secretary of State Denny Hoskins for $80 million, claiming he violated state law by mishandling a referendum that challenged the state’s gerrymandered congressional map. The plaintiffs, representing over 160,000 verified petition signers, argue Hoskins failed his legal duty under a 1945 statute requiring compensation for harm caused by official negligence. Despite the Missouri Supreme Court ruling the referendum valid and ordering it to appear on the November ballot, Hoskins initially refused certification and instructed local officials to use the new map — actions later deemed contemptuous. Complicating matters, Hoskins had also agreed to a conflicting federal order before it was halted by the U.S. Supreme Court. This lawsuit isn’t about altering the election outcome — it’s about holding Hoskins accountable for financial damages under state law, pending a judge’s determination whether this qualifies as a class-action case and if petition signers are legally “aggrieved.” Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Sources:https://www.stlpr.org/government-politics-issues/2026-09-14/lawsuit-80-million-denny-hoskins-missouri-congressional-map More coverage & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/52ca7fa4546bb8cb Report issues to [email protected].