Filed Date: May 20, 2022
Closed Date: June 6, 2022
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This is a case about a plaintiff's challenge to the Missouri election scheme for the presidential primary election. On May 20, 2022, a voter in Missouri filed this lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri. The plaintiff sued the U.S. Congress under 42 U.S.C. 1983. The pro se plaintiff sought financial relief and an injunction against the present Missouri election scheme. He claimed that the partisan restrictions of primary elections violate his constitutional rights by “restricting [his] ability to vote for someone in any party other than the one on the ballot [he] ha[s] chosen.”
Plaintiff challenged the Missouri law that restricts voting in the primary elections to the candidate of one party as a violation of his constitutional rights. The Court, however, disagreed, finding that the plaintiff failed to state a claim upon which relief may be granted. First, the Court noted, Missouri’s election scheme has already been deemed constitutional. See Libertarian Party v. Bond, 764 F.3d 538, 542 (8th Cir. 1985). Second, “[a]bsent a waiver, sovereign immunity shields the Federal Government and its agencies from suit.” F.D.I.C. v. Meyer, 510 U.S. 471, 475 (1994) (citation omitted). The plaintiff did not allege facts indicating that the United States Congress has waived immunity or otherwise consented to be sued. Following this ruling, the plaintiff filed a document he titled "First Reply," which the Court construed as a Motion for Reconsideration. The Court denied this motion as well, finding that the Missouri law restricting voting in primary elections to the candidates of one party is constitutional, and that the plaintiff failed to plead any cognizable claim regarding his inability to write-in a candidate at the primary election votes, because voters are entitled to write-in candidates at the general election.
The case was closed on June 6, 2022.
Summary Authors
LFAA (1/13/2026)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/63327645/parties/white-v-us-congress/
Bough, Stephen Rogers (Missouri)
White, Jeffrey (Jeff) (Missouri)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/63327645/white-v-us-congress/
Last updated Jan. 13, 2026, 2:42 p.m.
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
Law Firm Antiracism Alliance (LFAA) project
Key Dates
Filing Date: May 20, 2022
Closing Date: June 6, 2022
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Voting resident of Missouri
Plaintiff Type(s):
Public Interest Lawyer: No
Filed Pro Se: Yes
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Other Dockets:
Western District of Missouri 6:22-cv-03133
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Defendant
Relief Sought:
Relief Granted:
Source of Relief:
Issues
Voting: