Missouri voters defeat income tax, initiative petition amendments in landslide
KANSAS CITY, Mo. —
Missouri voters overwhelmingly rejected two of the state’s highest-profile constitutional amendments Tuesday.
With 95% of precincts reporting, Amendment 4 was failing with nearly 80% of the vote, while Amendment 5 was rejected by more than 82% of voters.
Over a million votes were cast in opposition to both amendments.
The amendments would have made it harder to amend the state constitution, and another would have phased out the state’s income tax.
Amendment 4 would have required citizen-led constitutional amendments to receive majority support in every congressional district, replacing Missouri’s current system that requires only a statewide majority.
Amendment 5 proposed a long-term phaseout of Missouri’s individual income tax while allowing lawmakers to expand sales and use taxes to replace the lost revenue.
Gov. Mike Kehoe endorsed both amendments.
The governor reacted to Amendment 5’s defeat.
“Throughout this conversation on eliminating the state income tax, we made the case that Missouri should think boldly about its future, challenge the status quo, and pursue policies that make our state more competitive,” Kehoe said on social media. “While Amendment 5 did not earn the support it needed, I believe our work is far from over. 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.”
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas reacted to both results.
“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 that would spare civic responsibility for a few elites while raising costs on hardworking families in our state and our country,” Lucas said.
Lucas’ called Amendment 4’s failure a “repudiation of Jefferson City politics.”
“Tonight’s vote is a total repudiation of Jefferson City politics, statewide leaders who backed the amendment, and attempted state control of our voices,” Lucas said. “Voters of all parties reaffirmed the core, common sense principle that the majority—made up of us all equally—should have the ability to decide the future of our state.”
House Minority Leader Ashley Aune (D-Kansas City) said state leaders paid a “political price” with the failures of Amendment 4 and 5.
“Missouri voters just made clear they won’t let Republicans rewrite the rules to protect their own power and line the pockets of the ultra-wealthy,” she said. “The overwhelming defeat of Amendments 4 and 5 should surprise no one, and neither should the electoral consequences that are coming for lawmakers who voted for these schemes over the will of their constituents. In November, voters have the chance to send another powerful message to Jefferson City Republicans: If you mess with Missourians’ rights, you will pay the political price.”
Amendments 1 and 2 approved by voters
Amendment 1 passed, renewing Missouri’s existing sales tax that funds the state’s park system. The measure maintains a dedicated funding source for state parks rather than shifting those costs to the state’s general revenue.
Amendment 2 also passed, making the Jackson County assessor an elected position.
Jackson County had been the only county in Missouri where the assessor was appointed.