Democracy and health were on the November ballot in both Kansas and Missouri. Many wins were had up and down the ballot in Missouri and Kansas that will improve access to democratic processes and better health outcomes.
“None of these wins would have been possible without people leaning into their power. All of these wins are an indication that the democracy we were promised is a democracy that we must continue to fight for. Access to a healthy democracy is necessary for individual and community health – and these wins better position us all to have better health outcomes,” said McClain Bryant Macklin, Health Forward’s Chief Policy and Impact Officer.
Health Forward Foundation supported a number of issue campaigns in Wyandotte County, Jackson County and Missouri on the November ballot. Here’s a breakdown of Tuesday’s election results and how these measures will impact communities in our service area:
Proposition A: New Congressional Plan
Missourians rejected Proposition A with a vote of 61.8 percent to 38 percent dismissing the gerrymandered maps adopted by the Legislature during a 2025 special session. (as of 2:00 p.m., November 4)
What this means:
Missourians from across the state resoundingly voted to reject the congressional district maps passed by the Missouri Legislature in September 2025. The maps would have split Kansas City’s Fifth congressional district into three separate congressional districts spanning The Ozarks to the Iowa borders, combining metro areas into rural districts with no meaningful connection to the lived experiences, needs or circumstances of residents in very different geographies. This was an attempt to diminish the voting power of Black, brown and rural communities. These results show that a coalition of voters, across zip codes and party lines all over the state, chose to reject blatant political gamesmanship and protect the power of people to elect representatives that share their health care and other interests.
Constitutional Amendment No. 3: Abortion/Amendment 3 Repeal
Missourians voted to reject Amendment 3 with a vote of 55.4 percent to 44.5 percent to restore access to reproductive care (as of 2:00 p.m., November 4)
What this means:
By rejecting Amendment 3, Missourians preserved protections—approved by Missourians in 2024—for essential reproductive and pregnancy-related care, including abortion, prenatal care, childbirth, postpartum care, birth control and miscarriage care. This outcome supports the health of Missouri communities by protecting patients’ ability to make personal health care decisions with their families and doctors.
Jackson County, MO: Question 1 COMBAT Continuation
Jackson County residents voted to approve Question 1 with a vote of 72.8 percent to 24 percent to support COMBAT through sales tax for another 10 years. (as of 2:00 p.m., November 4)
What this means:
The renewal of COMBAT helps sustain more than $20 million annually for programs that address the root causes of violence and crime, including mental health services, domestic violence services, substance use prevention and treatment, legal aid, and workforce training. By investing in housing stability, economic opportunity and mental health care, COMBAT supports safer communities and better health outcomes for Jackson County residents. These upstream investments can help prevent violence before it happens, reduce trauma and improve long-term community well-being.
Wyandotte Health Sales Tax
Wyandotte County residents rejected the Health Sales Tax with a vote of 52.8 percent to 47 percent to provide critical funding for health care access. ((as of 2:00 p.m., November 4)
What this means:
Wyandotte County’s Health Sales Tax would have supported public health programs and expanded access to essential services for residents who might otherwise struggle to get the care they need. The measure would have provided a dedicated source of funding for addressing community health needs.The denial of this investment means that officials at the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, may now need to go back to the drawing board to find resources for planned improvements.
