Missouri voters reject income tax repeal, constitutional petition changes 

Missouri voters overwhelmingly rejected eliminating the income tax and changing the petition process for the state constitution, voting “no” on Amendments 4 and 5 in Tuesday’s primary election. The margins were roughly 80% against each amendment.

Amendment 4

Amendment 4 sought to change how initiative petitions to amend the state constitution are approved. Instead of a simple statewide majority, it would have required petitions to pass in all eight of the state’s congressional districts.

Proponents argued the constitution shouldn’t be easy to change and should reflect the will of the people in all parts of the state. Critics, on the other hand, said making the constitution more difficult to amend violates the people’s rights.

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, who has hinted strongly at a run for higher office in 2028, celebrated the amendment’s defeat on social media.

“Missouri’s leaders are not just far right, they are far out – far out of the mainstream of common-sense voters,” Lucas, a Democrat, said in a press release. “Tonight’s result gives hope to Missourians interested in a return to sane, people-centered politics.”

Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe, a first-term Republican governor who advocated for the amendment, said he doesn’t plan to accept defeat and will keep fighting for a strong constitution.

“Unfortunately, special interests succeeded in keeping our Constitution vulnerable with the defeat of Amendment 4,” Kehoe said in a release. “I will continue working to fight for election integrity, transparency, and a system that does not allow our Constitution to be up for sale.”

Amendment 5

Amendment 5 would’ve eliminated Missouri’s income tax through a phaseout system while adjusting the sales tax to make up for lost revenue. Kehoe estimated eliminating the income tax would put $9 billion back in the pockets of Missourians every year.

Advocates argued the amendment would allow people to keep more of their hard-earned dollars instead of paying taxes. Even though sales taxes might change, at least Missourians have a say in how they spend their money. Phasing out the income tax would also strengthen the state’s economy, making it more competitive with other states, Kehoe argued.

Critics mainly opposed adjusting the sales tax and claimed eliminating the income tax would harm public education funding.

Kehoe, however, said the plan “does not affect the funding of public education dollars.

“Separate system for public education funding but this process is all about Missourians keeping more of their own money, not about defunding public education.”

Following the defeat, Lucas posted another statement captioned “Nah, son.”

“Tonight’s rejection of Amendment 5 is not only an immense failure for statewide leadership, but also a sign to out-of-state billionaire special interests that Missourians and most Americans have no interest in voodoo tax schemes,” he wrote.

Kehoe again said he doesn’t plan to give up.

“While Amendment 5 did not earn the support it needed, I believe our work is far from over,” he wrote in a press release. “I remain committed to working with the General Assembly in the years ahead on ways to continue cutting taxes, growing our state’s economy, and pursuing conservative policies that help Missouri families keep more of what they earn.”

Congressional candidates 

All six of the state’s congressional candidates endorsed by President Donald Trump won their primaries.

In the Republican primaries in Kansas City, Mark Alford carried District 4 with roughly 78% of the vote; Rick Brattin won District 5 with about 45%; and Chris Stigall prevailed in District 6 with roughly 44% of the vote, defeating City Councilman Nathan Willett, who had 34%.

Other measures

Missouri Amendments 1 and 2 passed with 82% and 77% of the vote, respectively. Amendment 1 extends the 0.1% sales tax used for soil and water conservation, as well as state parks and historic sites, for 10 years.

“As a proud first-generation farmer and supporter of Missouri’s state parks and historic sites, I appreciate Missourians’ continued backing of this important investment,” Kehoe said in a press release. “Supporting state parks and soil conservation through funding that is not subject to the ups and downs of general revenue benefits all Missourians.”

Amendment 2 changes the state constitution and requires all charter counties, including Jackson County, to elect a county assessor who must comply with training requirements in accordance with state law.

An ongoing Jackson County lawsuit disputes 2023 property assessments in which many assessments increased by more than 15%, which is in violation of state law. The county is currently exempt from electing an assessor. Charter county assessors also don’t have to follow training requirements under current state law.

In addition to the amendments, Kansas Citians voted “yes” on five city-specific measures covering tax and bond issues.