Full Breakdown
Missouri Voters Reject GOP-Backed Ballot Measures on Direct Democracy and Income Tax
8/6/2026, 9:59:52 AM
Core Event: Defeat of Amendment 4 and Amendment 5
On August 4, Missouri voters turned down Amendment 4, which would have required citizen-initiated amendments to win a majority in each of the state’s eight congressional districts. The final count, reported on August 5, showed 80.3 % opposition and 19.7 % support. In the same election, Amendment 5 – a plan to eliminate the state personal income tax and replace it with an expanded sales tax – was rejected by 83 % of voters. Both measures failed in every county.
Background & Context
Amendment 4, introduced by the Republican-controlled General Assembly and supported by Governor Mike Kehoe, would have created the nation’s highest threshold for citizen-initiated constitutional changes, potentially blocking recent voter-approved initiatives on abortion, marijuana, Medicaid expansion and a minimum-wage increase. Legislative proposals would still have required a simple statewide majority.
Amendment 5, also backed by Kehoe, sought to phase out Missouri’s personal income tax over five years while raising the sales tax to fund state services. Opponents warned the shift would increase the tax burden on working families if sales-tax revenues fell short.
Data & Statistics
- Amendment 4: 80.3 % “no,” 19.7 % “yes.”
- Amendment 5: 83 % “no,” 17 % “yes.”
- Campaign spending: Protect Election Integrity raised $132,100 and spent $28,653 on Amendment 4 through July 23.
- Pro-Amendment 5 financing: Missouri Promise PAC raised $17.2 million.
- Opposition financing: Protect Election Integrity and Freedom Principle Missouri/Missouri First PAC contributed $45,551 to the Amendment 4 campaign.
Official Statements & Responses
- Governor Mike Kehoe promoted both amendments as a “generational opportunity” to make Missouri more competitive, arguing that eliminating the income tax would attract jobs and investment.
- Secretary of State Denny Hoskins blocked a separate citizen petition seeking a statewide vote on new congressional maps, saying the number of signatures “doesn’t really matter.”
Verbatim Quotes
- “We took over control of the state of Missouri tonight, repudiating absolutely atrocious ideas,” — Mayor Quinton Lucas
- “It would have neutered the process altogether. Nothing would ever pass again. Missouri voters are just smarter than that,” — Mallory Rusch
- “Voters are hungry to have a clear, fair, and transparent process to decide the future of our state,” — Benjamin Singer, Respect Missouri Voters
What’s Next
Democratic lawmakers have launched AxeTheHacks.com, an online tool that lets voters see how each state representative voted on the amendments.
The Respect Missouri Voters campaign is preparing a legal challenge after Secretary of State Hoskins declined to certify a citizen-collected petition that would have placed a redistricting referendum on the November ballot. The outcome could determine whether Missouri voters will have a direct say on congressional maps later this year.
