Missouri
Missouri Secretary of State Erects New Hurdle for ‘People’s Veto’ of GOP Gerrymander
Missouri voters are organizing to use their constitutional right to veto the GOP-controlled state legislature’s new gerrymandered map. But while they cleared one administrative hurdle Wednesday, the Republicans who run the state are trying to place yet another stumbling block in their path.
Gov. Mike Kehoe (R) signed into law last month a congressional redraw that splits apart Black communities in Kansas City and absorbs them into GOP districts, eliminating one of Missouri’s two districts reliably held by Democrats.
But unlike in Texas – another red state that has bent the knee to redraw maps this year at President Donald Trump’s demand – the Missouri constitution provides voters with the opportunity to have the last word and block unpopular legislation themselves — known as a “people’s veto.”
To put the veto question on the ballot for a statewide vote, organizers must collect over 106,000 valid signatures by Dec. 11 – from at least 5% of voters in two-thirds of the state’s congressional districts.
Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins (R) announced Wednesday his office approved the referendum petition. But he also put an additional hurdle in organizers’ way, claiming the signatures already collected by voters are invalid and constitute a “misdemeanor election offense.” Hoskins said his approval was required before organizers could begin collecting signatures.
Petition organizers slammed Hoskins for spreading “false and misleading information” about the process “without citation or legal authority.” The state constitution only requires Missourians to submit a cover sheet before beginning to gather signatures, organizers said.
“We will not be intimidated or distracted. This referendum will qualify, and Missourians – not politicians – will decide the future of fair representation in our state,” Richard von Glahn, Executive Director of People Not Politicians Missouri, said in a statement.
More than 2,400 Missourians have volunteered to gather signatures, according to the group.
The pro-voting coalition organizing the referendum said voters have collected over 100,000 signatures “from Missourians outraged by the state’s illegal gerrymandered maps.”
Hoskins’ effort to block the signatures is only the latest attempt from Republican state officials to stop the referendum from making it to the ballot.
Hoskins and Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway (R) previously rejected the referendum petition Sept. 26, arguing the petition was premature because the gerrymander hadn’t yet been signed into law at the time it was filed.
Petition organizers said Hanaway cited a section of the Missouri Constitution that deals with initiative petitions, not referendums.
People Not Politicians filed a petition Sept. 29 asking a circuit court for a declaratory judgment and an injunction against the rejection.
Hanaway then sent an opinion letter to Hoskins Oct. 9 approving the petition, but giving Hoskins final authority on the decision.
Hoskins sent von Glahn a letter five days later approving the referendum petition – but left the door wide open for future roadblocks.
Hoskins warned he could later decline to certify the petition for placement on the ballot “if statutory or constitutional deficiencies” arise, such as failure to submit enough valid signatures or “defects” affecting the validity of the referendum.
With the season underway there were a handful of key games across Missouri this week.
Principia proved there’s a large margin between it and the second spot. Vashon looked excellent at the Norm Stewart Classic. McCluer North defeated Chaminade 54-48 at home earning them a spot on the list. Blue Springs South and Jackson are other new additions.
Early season tournaments & events have given an early look at the teams who could be strong contenders over the following months.
Record: 2-0
Outlook: Two dominant performances at the Norm Stewart Classic backs up the national ranking for Principia. A conference game vs. Priory is up next. Against Inglewood (CA) Quentin Coleman had 29 points and 12 rebounds.
Record: 3-0
Outlook: Kain McCaskill was excellent vs. Little Rock Central at the Norm Stewart Classic. He’s going to be a senior leader all season. Up next is Melissa (TX) in Kansas City next weekend.
Record: 2-0
Outlook: A two point win over Staley says a lot about the quality of this team. The Northmen should once again be one of the best teams in Class 6
Record: 1-0
Outlook: The Spartans were dominant vs. Belleville West. Will Foulk scored 24 points in the win. The Spartans have Alton (IL) at home next.
Record: 3-1
Outlook: It was a full week of games for Chaminade. They lost a road contest to McCluer North but followed it up with wins over Putnam City North and Simeon on the road. A young team who’s growing each game.
Record: 1-0
Outlook: Webster will be well rested heading into their Classic that starts on Thursday. The first round matchup will be vs. Jennings for the Statesmen.
Record: 3-0
Outlook: A dominant 30 point victory over Summit Christian brought this squad a championship at the Eagle Invitational.
Record: 3-0
Outlook: The Broncos backed up their high ranking with a 61-55 win over North Kansas City at the Phog Allen Classic. Drexel signee Tre Paulding is off to a hot start.
Record: 3-0
Outlook: This team has had dominant wins in all three games to this point. A championship vs. Marquette is set for Wednesday.
Record: 2-0
Outlook: Lincoln Goodwin is growing into one of the best players in the state. Next up is the Liberty North Shootout starting Monday.
Record: 3-0
Outlook: The Chiefs were dominant in the Arvest Classic. They went 3-0 winning the championship game over Helias. This team has excellent guard play.
Record: 2-0
Outlook: Rockhurst looked great in their first two games. They’re set to play in the Blue Valley Tournament this upcoming week.
Record: 2-1
Outlook: The Hornets played Lee’s Summit North tough in a 55-61 loss finishing the week 2-1. Up next is the Blue Valley Northwest Husky Hoops Classic.
Record: 5-0
Outlook: Rashad Lindsey is one of the best coaches in Missouri. His squad earned a signature win vs. Chaminade to continue their hot start.
Record: 1-1
Outlook: Staley split their games on the week. Both showed this team can compete at a high level. Senior Kenison Stone was a standout.
Record: 2-1
Outlook: Overall, it was a productive week for Helias. They earned a big win over Hillcrest and competed vs. Kickapoo in a close loss during the Arvest championship game. Up next is Lift for Life.
Record: 2-2
Outlook: Battle got out of state and played some tough competition which included a game vs. Millwood (OK). Up next is Truman in the Twelve Days of Christmas event.
Record: 3-0
Outlook: Vianney made a statement at their own tournament. They won all three games by 25+ points. Their first big test will be vs. Chaminade on December 19th.
Record: 3-1
Outlook: The Mustangs went 3-0 this week with two wins at the Troy Tournament and a 31 point win vs. Jefferson City at the Norm Stewart Classic.
Record: 2-0
Outlook: Rolla had a statement win vs. Pembroke Hill at the Norm Stewart Classic. Illinois bound Ethan Brown was excellent in the game scoring 34 points.
Record: 2-1
Outlook: Grain Valley went 2-1 in Nebraska. They’re a team with lots of upside out of the Kansas City area. Up next is William Chrisman on the road.
Record: 3-0
Outlook: Jackson was excellent taking care of business in the Farmington Tournament. They look like one of, if not, the best team in SEMO.
Record: 2-0
Outlook: Rock Bridge played two games at the St. Charles round-robbin event. They won each by a large margin. Freshman Beckett Bruns looks like a prospect to watch.
Record: 0-0
Outlook: MICDS starts their season vs. Lafayette on December 9th.
Record: 2-1
Outlook: The Jaguars went 2-1 during their time in Nebraska. This is a team who was excellent last season and returned guard production.
The 2025 Missouri high school football season has come to a close with an exciting slate of MSHSAA Show-Me Bowl champions crowned last weekend at Spratt Memorial Stadium in St. Joseph.
Platte County stood at the forefront once again, opening the year as the state’s preseason No. 1 and finishing in the same spot after a 14-0 run capped by an overtime win against Carthage for the Class 5 championship. The season also delivered first-time titles for Worth County in 8-man and Tipton in Class 1, along with undefeated state champions in Blair Oaks (Class 2) and Kearney (Class 4).
Movement across the top 10 took center stage this week.
Lee’s Summit made the most dramatic ascent. The Tigers opened the preseason at No. 10 before falling off with an 0-4 start, then reeled off 10 consecutive wins and beat then No. 3 Jackson in the semifinals and No. 2 Nixa in the Class 6 championship to finish No. 2.
Nixa held firm as a contender and finished No. 5 after reaching the Class 6 final, while Seneca broke into the top 10 by securing the Class 3 title after two straight runner-up finishes. Carthage and Jackson also delivered strong postseason showings that kept them firmly in the upper tier.
Championship-caliber balance defined several of the state’s elite programs. Kearney rode one of Missouri’s stingiest defenses to a perfect season and the Class 4 crown, and Blair Oaks dominated its first year back in Class 2 on the way to its second consecutive title and seventh in program history. Behind them, programs such as CBC, Kirkwood, Lafayette, and Hannibal anchored a deep and competitive field that showcased high-level football from August to November.
With five state champions finishing undefeated and several programs returning significant pieces, the groundwork has already been laid for another compelling chase in 2026.
Dec. 7, 2025
Final Record: 14-0
Last Week’s Ranking: 1
It takes a truly special team to run the table as No. 1 for the entirety of the season, but that’s exactly what they did. They won games in a variety of fashions — blowouts, last-second touchdowns and overtime wins. But they always found a way, and they claimed their second consecutive Class 5 state championship with a thrilling 34-28 victory over Carthage in the Show-Me Bowl.
Final Record: 10-4
Last Week’s Ranking: 5
Ranked No. 10 in our preseason poll, the Tigers quickly fell off after an 0-4 start. But, with senior star Preston Hatfield healthy and running the offense, the Tigers ripped off 10 straight wins, including postseason victories over five state-ranked teams — Lee’s Summit North, North Kansas City, Liberty, then No. 3 Jackson and No. 2 Nixa — to win the Class 6 championship.
Final Record: 14-0
Last Week’s Ranking: 3
Ranked No. 11 in the preseason, the Bulldogs did nothing but impress all season. Their defense never allowed more than 24 points in any game and they beat No. 12 Hannibal 21-14 to win the Class 4 state championship.
Final Record: 14-0
Last Week’s Ranking: 4
One of the best teams regardless of classification, the Falcons won the 2024 Class 3 championship and then dropped down to Class 2 with much of that same team intact. They breezed to their second straight championship, beating St. Pius X (Festus) 59-0 in the title game while allowing only 15 points and pitching three shutouts in five postseason games.
Final Record: 13-1
Last Week’s Ranking: 2
Ranked No. 2 since the preseason, the Eagles barged their way into the Class 6 championship game for the second time in as many seasons. The favorite going in against Lee’s Summit, the Eagles’ defense allowed a Show-Me Bowl record 457 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns to Tigers quarterback Preston Hatfield and lost 41-37.
Final Record: 12-2
Last Week’s Ranking: 6
Backed by a superb defense, Carthage went on a tear in the postseason and took No. 1 Platte County to the wire in the Class 5 championship before falling 34-28 in overtime.
Final Record: 12-1
Last Week’s Ranking: 7
Jackson’s season ended with a 35-28 loss to eventual Class 6 champion Lee’s Summit in the state semifinals.
Final Record: 13-1
Last Week’s Ranking: 11
Coming off back-to-back runner-up finishes in Class 3, the third time was the charm for the Indians, as they beat Lift for Life Academy 33-26 to claim their third state championship in program history.
Final Record: 11-1
Last Week’s Ranking: 8
The Cadets lost to Jackson, 45-42, in the Class 6 quarterfinals.
Final Record: 10-2
Last Week’s Ranking: 9
Their season ended with a 64-35 loss to No. 1 Platte County in the Class 5 semifinals.
Final Record: 10-1
Last Week’s Ranking: 10
Lafayette’s season ended with a 77-62 loss to No. 3 CBC in the Class 6 District 2 championship game.
Final Record: 11-3
Last Week’s Ranking: 12
Getting back to the Show-Me Bowl for the first time since 2021, the Pirates finished as Class 4 runner-up with a 21-14 loss to No. 3 Kearney.
Final Record: 9-4
Last Week’s Ranking: 13
The Lions’ season ended in the Class 5 semifinals with a 20-8 loss to state runner-up Carthage.
Final Record: 11-1
Last Week’s Ranking: 14
A 45-28 loss to Nixa ended the Crusaders’ season in the state quarterfinals.
Final Record: 10-2
Last Week’s Ranking: 15
Liberty reached the Class 6 quarterfinals before losing to eventual state champion Lee’s Summit, 24-14.
Final Record: 9-1
Last Week’s Ranking: 16
The Jaguars’ season ended with a loss to Blue Springs in the Class 6 District 6 semifinals.
Final Record: 9-3
Last Week’s Ranking: 17
Rockhurst’s season ended with a 29-22 loss to No. 1 Platte County, who scored the winning touchdown with 2 seconds remaining, in the Class 5 District 8 championship.
Final Record: 9-2
Last Week’s Ranking: 18
Republic’s season ended in the Class 5 District 6 championship with a 31-14 loss to Carthage.
Final Record: 10-2
Last Week’s Ranking: 19
The Panthers saw their 2025 season end in the Class 6 quarterfinals with a 38-13 loss to Cardinal Ritter.
Final Record: 8-4
Last Week’s Ranking: 20
The Wildcats’ season ended in the Class 6 District 6 finals with a 26-21 loss to unbeaten Helias Catholic.
Final Record: 10-3
Last Week’s Ranking: 21
The Tigers’ season came to a close in the Class 4 state semifinals with a 52-24 loss to No. 4 Kearney. Festus averaged 36.8 points per game in 2025.
Final Record: 8-3
Last Week’s Ranking: 22
North Kansas City’s season ended with a 42-21 loss to Lee’s Summit in the Class 6 District 7 championship.
Final Record: 7-3
Last Week’s Ranking: 23
SLUH’s season ended Nov. 7 with a 28-25 loss to Lafayette Wildwood in the Class 6 District 2 semifinals.
Final Record: 8-3
Last Week’s Ranking: 24
The Wildcats’ season ended at the hands of No. 7 Kirkwood, 21-10, in the Class 5 District 2 championship.
Final Record: 10-2
Last Week’s Ranking: 25
Savannah’s season came to an end with a 24-0 loss to No. 5 Kearney in the Class 4 District 8 championship.
The Missouri Tigers are looking to bounce back from their first loss when they square off against the Kansas Jayhawks on Sunday. New users in Missouri still have time to claim our DraftKings Missouri promo code to score $300 in bonus bets instantly with a $5 wager on today’s big game.
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| ✅Last verified | Dec. 7, 2025 |
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Bet on Missouri vs. Kansas with the DraftKings MO promo code
Missouri fell to Notre Dame in its last outing, and things don’t get any easier on Sunday when it faces Kansas. It remains unclear whether or not star freshman Darryn Peterson will suit up for the Jayhawks. No matter which bet you plan to make, grab today’s DraftKings Missouri promo code to wager with bonuses.
The Tigers haven’t faced a lot of tough competition yet. In fact, their best win is against Minnesota, which is ranked outside of the top 100 according to KenPom. The Jayhawks, meanwhile, have faced and lost to North Carolina, Duke and UConn. They did pick up a win over Tennessee.
The matchup to watch in this contest will be Missouri’s Mark Mitchell against Flory Bidunga of Kansas. Mitchell is a versatile big, but he could struggle inside against Bidunga, who is averaging over two blocks and nearly nine rebounds per game.
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