Missouri Alert: Don’t let text scare you away from anti-gerrymander petition | Opinion

People all over Missouri are getting a scary text message Tuesday afternoon. With a giant red stop sign reading “Missouri alert,” and decorated with emergency light emojis, it warns:

“Black Friday Shoppers Beware. Out of state interests are setting up booths and tables in high traffic areas during Black Friday shopping trying to trick people into signing petitions. DON’T GIVE THEM YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION! These groups are under investigation by the Attorney General for improper conduct.”

Under the stop sign, it reads, “Paid for by the Republican National Committee. Not Authorized By Any Candidate Or Candidate’s Committee. www.gop.com”

Beware, all right: Beware that somebody likely is trying to frighten you into not stopping to speak with one of the many perfectly honest and reputable Missourians who will be gathering signatures seeking to undo the gerrymandered congressional district maps that the GOP-supermajority General Assembly in Jefferson City redrew earlier this year.

We should note that we have no idea who’s behind the text. Anyone could claim it’s coming from the GOP. One member of this board received the message from the number (314) 926-9865. There could be others.

Redistricting is supposed to be carried out once per decade, after the census. But this summer, President Donald Trump ordered Republican-controlled states to redraw their maps to give the party a bigger chance of retaining the House of Representatives in the 2026 midterms. Texas and North Carolina have already joined Missouri in skewing their districts – but Texas’ thumb has already been pushed off the scale, as a three-judge federal court has ruled it was a politically-motivated racial gerrymandering. That state must go back to its original maps for the election.

As The Star’s Kacen Bayless has reported, dark money is pouring into Missouri this fall to keep residents from holding a referendum to un-cheat the state’s congressional district map. Many elected officials hate the initiative petition process because it’s the most direct way for members of the public to assert their wishes. They’ll be coming after that next.

But as you shop this holiday weekend, consider this warning. There’s no reason to think those nice people asking you to sign your name to a petition ensuring we all get just representation in Washington, D.C., are trying to steal your identity or your money. More likely, they’re trying to wrest control of our democracy from politicians and back into our own hands.

This story was originally published November 25, 2025 at 2:44 PM.