Gov. Mike Kehoe (r) thinks we’re all ignorant and stupid

03 Thursday Sep 2026

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“…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)

Favorite whine

03 Thursday Sep 2026

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Bad combover. Check. Too long red tie. Check. Orange spray tan. Check. Tiny hands. Check. Cluelessness. Check…

This evening:

Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump

The Missouri Supreme Court just ridiculously ruled in favor of changing the maps back to what they were a long time ago. It’s called, Ancient History! The problem is, according to Legal Scholars, that not only was the ruling horrible, ridiculous, and unConstitutional, but there won’t be enough time to change the map back with the Election coming up in a very short period of time. The Election Process, as usual, is being disturbed in America! Missouri must be able to use the map that was in effect just a couple of months ago, in the Primary. This is a Dark Day for “Justice” in Missouri! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP

2.06k ReTruths 6.24k Likes Sep 03, 2026, 6:16 PM

“Gerrymander This”

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)

Missouri Supreme Court: “HB 1 congressional redistricting, yeah, no.”

03 Thursday Sep 2026

Posted by in Congress, Missouri General Assembly

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“…The secretary [of State – Denny Hoskins (r)] devotes a significant portion of his briefing to discussing the confusion, expense, and practical difficulties that may result from not utilizing the congressional redistricting in HB 1 for the November 2026 election. Besides being irrelevant to the secretary’s sole basis for declaring the referendum petition insufficient, these arguments are particularly misplaced given the secretary’s delay created the confusion, expense, and practical difficulties of which he complains…”

That’s what you call a good old-fashioned judicial smackdown.

Denny Hoskins (r) [2022 file photo].

The Missouri Supreme Court ruled today, 7-0, that the right wingnut controlled Missouri General Assembly’s mid-decade congressional gerrymander in HB 1 is void, stating, “…HB 1 is not the law and has never been the law…” Missouri congressional districts revert to the 2022 redistricting.

In their conclusion in SC101805: Richard von Glahn, Appellant, vs. Denny Hoskins, in His Official Capacity, et al., Respondents.

[….]

This Court reverses the circuit court’s judgment. The referendum petition was legal, sufficient, and timely, and the secretary incorrectly concluded otherwise. HB 1 did not go into effect and will not go into effect unless and until approved by the voters. The congressional redistricting the General Assembly established in 2022 remains in full force and effect for the November 2026 general election.

Pursuant to Rule 84.14, this Court enters judgment ordering the secretary to issue a certificate of sufficiency as to the referendum petition (2026-R004) (attaching a copy of this opinion thereto), to place the referendum petition on the November 2026 general election ballot, and to take any and all additional steps necessary to place the referendum petition on the ballot at that election before September 8, 2026. The secretary and all of those acting in concert with him are restrained and enjoined from implementing, using, or mandating the use of the congressional redistricting in HB 1 for the November 2026 general election or at any other time thereafter unless and until HB 1 is approved by the voters at the November 2026 general election and takes effect 30 days thereafter. Mo. Const. art. XII, sec. 2(b). No Rule 84.17 motions are permitted.

[….]

There will be no rehearing. The decision is final.

There’s also a lengthy footnote in the decision:

[….]

[8] The secretary devotes a significant portion of his briefing to discussing the confusion, expense, and practical difficulties that may result from not utilizing the congressional redistricting in HB 1 for the November 2026 election. Besides being irrelevant to the secretary’s sole basis for declaring the referendum petition insufficient, these arguments are particularly misplaced given the secretary’s delay created the confusion, expense, and practical difficulties of which he complains. In December 2025, a federal district court advised the secretary and the state that, if the referendum petition is sufficient, “the new map will be frozen until after the referendum, which could significantly disrupt the 2026 elections.” Mo. Gen. Assembly v. Von Glahn, No. 4:25-CV-1535-ZMB, 2025 WL 3514277, at *2 (E.D. Mo. Dec. 8, 2025). At the same time, the federal district court noted the secretary had the ability to declare the petition insufficient based on his argument in the federal litigation—identical to his argument now—that the Missouri Constitution does not permit a referendum as to congressional redistricting passed by the General Assembly. Id. at *4. “[T]here is no apparent reason why [the secretary] would incur the significant cost of signature verification given his stated belief that the petition is constitutionally deficient.” Id. at *2 n.2. In two separate cases in May, this Court stated it could not determine whether the congressional redistricting in HB 1 was in effect until the secretary issued his certification and the judicial review authorized by the General Assembly was complete. Maggard, 733 S.W.3d at 419-20; NAACP, 734 S.W.3d at 341 n.4. Despite this clear guidance from the federal district court and this Court, the secretary chose to delay his certification until the last possible day—August 4—and, in the meantime, utilized the congressional redistricting in HB 1 while incurring the time and expense of signature verification despite having represented to the federal district court he believed the referendum petition was constitutionally deficient. The secretary also chose to request verification of every signature, making the signature verification deadline July 28, when he could have chosen random sampling verification, with a deadline of not more than 30 days from the date the election authority received the petition from the secretary. See sec. 116.130.2. The secretary delayed certification until the last possible date and chose not to seek resolution of the constitutional question despite having been told at least as early as December 2025 he had the unique ability as secretary to do so under Missouri statutes. Given these undisputed facts, the secretary’s arguments about confusion, expense, and practical
difficulties are wholly unpersuasive.

Perhaps worse, these arguments fundamentally misunderstand the status of HB 1 pending the referendum vote. HB 1 is not the law and has never been the law. There is only one valid congressional redistricting in effect—the congressional redistricting the General Assembly established in 2022. Under article III, section 52(b), HB 1 “shall take effect when approved by a majority of the votes cast thereon, and not otherwise.” Unless and until the voters approve HB 1 at the November 2026 general election, HB 1 is of no force and effect and did not take effect on December 11 because it is subject to a sufficient referendum petition filed on December 9. Regardless of any confusion, expense, or practical difficulties caused by the secretary’s delay and incorrect assumption about whether the referendum petition would be deemed sufficient, simply continuing to utilize the congressional redistricting in HB 1 does not comport with the Missouri Constitution because the 2022 map is the only map in effect.

[….]

Dayam.

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)

Billboards in Missouri: sadly, no more

02 Wednesday Sep 2026

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A billboard, ironically and sadly, still up along U.S. Highway 50 in west central Missouri:

“Free Books!”

You think the billboard was rented for the long term? Maybe we should ask Gov. Mike Kehoe (r) about his indifferent commitment to early childhood education.

[….]
Because, by a vote of the right wingnut controlled Missouri General Assembly and with the approval of Governor Mike Kehoe (r), supporting a children’s reading program is less important than cutting taxes for billionaires and millionaires.
[….]

Mike Kehoe (r) [2026 file photo].

Previously:

A lack of imagination… (August 26, 2026)

Imagination! August 28, 2026)

Why we can’t have nice things – part the infinity

30 Sunday Aug 2026

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Political sign, yard sign, and banner theft.

RSMo §115.637. Class four election offenses. — The following offenses, and any others specifically so described by law, shall be class four election offenses and are deemed misdemeanors not connected with the exercise of the right of suffrage. Conviction for any of these offenses shall be punished by imprisonment of not more than one year or by a fine of not more than two thousand five hundred dollars or by both such imprisonment and fine:

[….]

(19) Stealing or willfully defacing, mutilating, or destroying any campaign yard sign on private property, except that this subdivision shall not be construed to interfere with the right of any private property owner to take any action with regard to campaign yard signs on the owner’s property and this subdivision shall not be construed to interfere with the right of any candidate, or the candidate’s designee, to remove the candidate’s campaign yard sign from the owner’s private property after the election day.

[….]

Banners and signs at a Democratic Party event at a generational rural farmstead in Leeton, Missouri:

Overnight:

Johnson County Missouri Democrats
·
So much for political discourse.

If anyone sees this banner, missing two of its corners, there is a [$]200 reward offered by Raymond James for information leading to an arrest of the person or persons who stole it and two other banners.

The banners cut from the metal fence sometime between 1030 pm on the 29 Aug and this morning at 8 am.

Also stolen Respect Mo Voters banner and a Missouri Democrats banner.

Stealing political signs / banners is a felony not a prank.

Stealing any political yard sign is a felony under Missouri state law.

See a sign on someone’s property leave it alone.

You want to disagree? That’s fine. But don’t go stealing stuff that’s not yours. Do better.

The total value of the signs/banners which were stolen was reportedly over $750.00. That’s a Felony in Missouri.

How do we stop this? Start catching and convicting the perpetrator(s).

What you can do:

Write in permanent ink/marker on every yard sign/sign/banner you place in your yard “Stolen from [your address]”. If the sign is recovered or the perpetrator is caught with the sign that is proof that it is your sign.

In a world of relatively inexpensive tracking tags and private surveillance cameras some moron is going to get caught. It’s just a matter of time.

Update

More images:

And, from the Johnson County, Missouri Election Authority:

Diane Norcross Thompson, Johnson County Clerk
[August 30, 2026]
·
As we head into campaign season for the November 3rd General Election, this is a friendly reminder that, pursuant to 115.637 RSMo, stealing or willfully defacing, mutilating, or destroying any campaign yard sign on private property is a Class Four misdemeanor punishable by up to $2,500.
Let’s all keep our hands to ourselves and let others express their political views as they see fit. A better use of your time is to make your voice heard at the ballot box! 🗳️

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D) – Leeton, Missouri – August 29, 2026

30 Sunday Aug 2026

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Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D).

Johnson County Democrats hosted one of their regular “Blue Dogs on the Farm” events on a multi-generation farmstead in Leeton early yesterday evening. Approximately 100 Democrats from the local area, Johnson County, and surrounding counties were in attendance. It was sunny and hot, with a temperature in the high 90s.

Representative Emanuel Cleaver (D) attended, spoke, and conversed with attendees – and posed for selfies and photos.

Representative Cleaver addressed the upcoming midterm election, accountability, the corruption and grift in the Trump Administration, on access to health care, on infrastructure, on the economy, on working for the needs of people in the district, and much more. The response from the crowd was determined and enthusiastic.

“When our country is at its darkest, Democrats must be at their best.”

Roberta “RB” Burford, Chair of the Johnson County Democratic Central Committee.

“Resist”

Representative Emanuel Cleaver and Leeton resident Raymond James.

The infrastructure bill that Congressman Cleaver voted for during the Biden Administration paid to repave 2 and 13 Highways in Johnson County and replace the bridge on 2 Hwy near Leeton.

Our Rural Electric CoOps in Johnson County brought affordable high speed internet to farms, thanks to that vote.

Did the Republican Congressman Mark Alford from the 4th District vote to repave our roads, build new bridges or bring us highspeed internet? No he did not.

He did vote for the Big Beautiful Bill under the current Trump Administration, as did every other Republican in congress, that defunds our rural hospitals and gives even bigger tax cuts to billionaires.

Senator Roy Blunt was the only Republican member of congress from Missouri to vote along with Congressman Cleaver on the infrastructure bill that President Biden signed.

My oldest is able to use the high speed internet to work from our farm enabling her to move back home.

I will gladly vote for Congressman Cleaver, a congressman who did more for me than the Republican who was my actual representative at the time.

Raymond James, MSG US Army Retired and
Rural Johnson County Voter

Newly paved MO Highway 13, heading south toward Highway 2 and Leeton.

Previously:

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D) – Governor’s Ham Breakfast – Missouri State Fair – Sedalia – August 20, 2026 (August 22, 2026)

Lunar Eclipse – August 27, 2026

28 Friday Aug 2026

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Last night in west central Missouri:

Canon 5D III, Tamron 150-600 mm, 1.4x.
f 9.0, 1/500, ISO 800, 840 mm.

Canon 5D III, Tamron 150-600 mm, 1.4x.
f 9.0, 1/500, ISO 800, 840 mm.

Canon 5D III, Tamron 150-600 mm, 1.4x.
f 9.0, 1/400, ISO 3200, 840 mm.

Canon 5D III, Tamron 150-600 mm, 1.4x.
f 9.0, 1/400, ISO 6400, 840 mm.

Canon 5D III, Tamron 150-600 mm, 1.4x.
f 9.0, 1/80, ISO 6400, 840 mm.

t

Canon 5D III, Tamron 150-600 mm, 1.4x.
f 9.0, 1/10, ISO 6400, 840 mm.

Canon 5D III, Tamron 150-600 mm, 1.4x.
f 9.0, 1/6, ISO 6400, 840 mm.