Full Breakdown
Missouri Primary Election Puts Four Constitutional Amendments to Voters
8/5/2026, 4:21:21 PM
Primary Election Overview
Missouri’s primary election in early August 2026 will determine party nominees for congressional seats, county executive offices, and the state auditor race. Voters will also decide four statewide constitutional amendments that address funding for parks and conservation, county assessor elections, the initiative petition process, and a proposal to replace the individual income tax with expanded sales and use taxes.
Amendments on the Ballot
- Amendment 1 seeks to extend a 0.1 % sales tax that funds state parks and soil-and-water conservation for another decade, generating roughly $140 million annually.
- Amendment 2 would require charter counties, including Jackson County, to elect rather than appoint their county assessor.
- Amendment 4 changes the citizen-initiated amendment rule, requiring both a statewide majority and a majority in each of Missouri’s eight congressional districts, a threshold that experts say would make passage “virtually impossible.”
- Amendment 5, championed by Governor Mike Kehoe, would allow the legislature to replace the individual income tax—currently yielding about $9 billion a year, roughly two-thirds of the state’s general revenue—with new or higher sales taxes without voter approval for five years. The additional revenue would be used to phase out the income tax.
Official Position of Governor Kehoe
Governor Kehoe, who cast his ballot on election day, reiterated his fiscal philosophy, saying he aims to let Missourians keep more of their money and will pursue policies that reduce the tax burden on families while the governor remains in office.
Opposition Concerns
A campaign opposing Amendment 5 describes the measure as a “blank check,” noting that it does not specify which goods or services—ranging from real-estate transactions to streaming subscriptions—could be taxed. Critics argue the lack of detail could allow broad new taxes without voter input.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I always try to figure out a way to let Missourians keep more of their money,” — Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe
