Missouri Grassroots Movement Challenges Redistricting Power Grab
In Jefferson City, Missouri, protesters gathered on 10 September 2025 to voice their opposition to the state legislature's efforts to redraw congressional district boundaries. The demonstration came as Republicans pushed through a new congressional map that has sparked widespread controversy and prompted a citizen-led campaign to overturn the decision.
The Canvasser Who Knows Everyone
Jill Imbler, a 69-year-old lifelong resident of Moberly, represents the heart of this grassroots movement. As President of the Randolph County Democrat Club, she operates in territory where Donald Trump won by more than 50 points in the 2016, 2020, and 2024 elections. Despite the political landscape, Imbler has taken to the streets with a petition to repeal the newly passed congressional map.
"I realized, 'wait a minute, we don't have the final say,'" Imbler explained during an interview at a local coffee shop. "It pissed me off – I realized this is not right."
What makes Imbler's campaign remarkable is her approach. Rather than relying on sophisticated voter databases or GPS navigation, she leverages her deep community connections. Having lived in Moberly her entire life and coming from a family of seven siblings, she knows where people live, when they're likely to be home, and often has personal connections through teaching their children or attending school with relatives.
The Controversial Redistricting Move
In mid-September, Missouri Republicans called a special legislative session at the request of Donald Trump to redraw the state's congressional maps. The most significant change involved carving up the Kansas City district represented by longtime Democratic congressman Emanuel Cleaver, replacing it with a Republican-leaning district.
This move was part of a broader national strategy by Trump to encourage Republican-controlled states to redraw congressional boundaries ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The goal: secure additional GOP seats in the US House of Representatives, where Republicans currently hold a razor-thin three-seat majority.
Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe, a Republican, signed the new map into law at the end of September. However, Missouri offers voters a unique opportunity to challenge the legislation through a constitutional provision dating back to 1908.
The Citizen Veto Power
Missouri's constitution contains a little-known provision that allows voters to pause most enacted laws and put them to a referendum if they gather enough signatures. This citizens veto process has been used approximately two dozen times since 1908, with voters choosing to repeal the challenged statute in nearly every case.
Richard Von Glahn, executive director of People not Politicians, the group leading the signature-gathering effort, explained: "We turn in signatures, the map goes on hold."
The campaign faces a December 11 deadline to collect more than 106,000 valid signatures from at least six of the state's eight congressional districts. If successful, the new map will remain suspended until voters decide whether to adopt it in a 2026 referendum.
Overwhelming Response and Republican Pushback
Canvassers report having already collected more than 200,000 signatures and plan to submit even more. The effort has gained traction across political lines, with Imbler noting success even in conservative strongholds.
During a late October toy drive at a local motorcycle shop, Imbler and her husband Lynn set up a petition table between a Trump 2024 sign and a rebel flag. "They were willing to sign and willing to agree that this isn't about Democrat or Republican, this is about the vote of the people," she recalled. They collected 56 signatures that day.
Republicans have launched a multi-pronged effort to counter the referendum campaign. Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins, a Republican, is attempting to have more than 90,000 signatures invalidated. The Republican National Committee has funded text messages encouraging people to withdraw their signatures, and the Missouri Attorney General has filed a lawsuit arguing that the state legislature has exclusive power to draw congressional districts.
Most concerning, a shadowy group has reportedly offered canvassers $5,000 to stop collecting signatures, according to the Kansas City Star.
National Implications
The Missouri battle is being closely watched as part of a nationwide mid-decade redistricting war between Democrats and Republicans. Republicans have redrawn congressional districts in Missouri, Texas, and North Carolina to potentially add as many as seven seats to their majority. Meanwhile, Democrats are preparing countermeasures with their own redistricting efforts in California and Virginia.
Recognising the high stakes, outside groups have poured approximately $7 million into the Missouri campaign, including significant contributions from national Republicans opposing the referendum effort.
For Imbler and thousands of other Missouri volunteers, the fight represents more than just political boundaries. "When people see that this is an issue that I'm willing to get out and ask for signatures for, they understand I'm not a radical either way," she said, reflecting on why her campaign has found support across party lines.
As Von Glahn noted, "This isn't an easy undertaking. It's not just something you do because maybe you're a little upset. It's really reserved for major infractions of the legislature."
With the December deadline approaching, both sides are preparing for what could be a decisive battle over who ultimately controls Missouri's congressional representation – politicians or the people.
