Missouri governor moves direct democracy, income tax votes to August primary

Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe announced Friday that two major ballot measures—Amendment 4 and Amendment 5—will appear on the August 4 primary ballot instead of November. Amendment 5 proposes replacing the state’s income tax with expanded sales taxes, while Amendment 4 seeks to restrict Missouri’s direct democracy process by requiring citizen-led constitutional amendments to win a majority in every congressional district, not just statewide. Kehoe’s decision shifts the timing of these high-stakes votes, allowing Republicans to gauge voter support in a lower-turnout primary where their base is more likely to participate. The move also prevents Democratic opponents from linking Republican candidates to these controversial measures in November, when abortion rights and other ballot initiatives will also be decided. Amendment 4 targets Missouri’s initiative petition process, which has enabled voters to pass measures on abortion, minimum wage, marijuana legalization, and Medicaid expansion in recent years. If approved, the amendment would raise the threshold for citizen-led amendments to require majority support in all eight congressional districts—a first in U.S. history. The August ballot will also include measures for directly electing county assessors and renewing a sales tax for parks conservation. Kehoe’s strategy reflects Republican efforts to secure early momentum ahead of a nationally challenging election cycle, marked by rising gas prices and shifting political dynamics. Missouri’s General Assembly had initially placed these measures on the November ballot, but Kehoe’s executive action reshapes the electoral landscape. The August primary will now serve as a critical test for Republican priorities, with potential consequences for November’s broader ballot initiatives.