A nationwide redistricting battle has been underway ever since Texas Gov. Greg Abbott capitulated to President Donald Trump’s request for a uncommon, mid-decade redistricting in July. Missouri governor Mike Kehoe introduced on Friday that Missouri’s redistricting effort will get underway this week after calling a particular legislative session.
Based on CBS Information, Missouri’s particular session is scheduled to start on Sept. 3. Gov. Kehoe made the announcement solely hours after Gov. Abbott signed the invoice approving Texas’ new electoral map that provides 5 new seats in districts Trump gained by double digits within the 2024 election. Missouri’s redistricting effort seeks to oust Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver from his chair by increasing his district eastward right into a extra Republican-leaning space. “This try and gerrymander Missouri won’t merely change district strains; it’s going to silence voices. It would deny illustration,” Cleaver mentioned in a press release.
“Missouri’s conservative, common sense values must be actually represented in any respect ranges of presidency,” Gov. Kehoe mentioned in a press release concerning the proposed new map. President Trump praised the transfer in a Reality Social submit, saying it “will give the unimaginable individuals of Missouri the great alternative to elect an extra MAGA Republican within the 2026 Midterm Elections.”
Missouri’s redistricting effort comes as President Trump desperately tries to carry on to the GOP’s slim majority within the Home forward of the 2026 midterms. Democrats solely want a internet achieve of three seats to flip management within the Home subsequent 12 months.
State Democrats have been vocal of their criticism of Missouri’s redistricting effort. Missouri State Home Minority Chief Ashley Aune known as Kehoe a “Trump puppet” who’s trying to “steal a congressional seat for Republicans.” Aune added that Missouri’s redistricting effort “marks the worst risk to the integrity of our state authorities since pro-slavery lawmakers voted for Missouri to affix the Confederacy in 1861.”
Missouri is at the moment represented within the U.S. Home by six Republicans and two Democrats. Kehoe’s proposed map would give Missouri Republicans a 7-1 benefit. Whereas Texas Democrats filibustered and even fled the state to interrupt quorum throughout Texas’ redistricting effort, Missouri Democrats have little recourse to dam Missouri Republicans.
Missouri is certainly one of a number of states which have initiated mid-decade redistricting efforts for partisan benefit. Indiana and Florida are at the moment contemplating redrawing their electoral maps forward of the midterms. A number of Democrat-led states have additionally proposed redrawing their electoral maps in response to the Republican redistricting efforts. Most notably, California Gov. Gavin Newsom launched the Election Rigging Response Act in August, which set a particular election for Nov. 4. An unbiased redistricting committee at the moment controls California’s electoral maps. The particular election will decide whether or not the state legislature will briefly management the maps for the subsequent 5 years till the subsequent census, at which level management will revert to the committee. Ought to voters approve the measure, Gov. Newsom’s proposed map will neutralize the beneficial properties of the Texas redistricting effort.
Missouri’s redistricting effort isn’t the one subject on the docket for the particular session. Missouri Republicans have lengthy been in opposition to the need of the individuals when it goes in opposition to their ideological pursuits. Missouri is among the solely states the place voters struck down an outright abortion ban via a poll initiative enshrining abortion without any consideration within the state structure.
This hasn’t stopped Missouri Republicans from launching a number of authorized challenges, making it nonetheless extremely tough to acquire an abortion within the state. The particular session will even introduce laws to make it more durable for related initiatives to achieve traction going ahead.
SEE ALSO:
President Trump Eyes Florida And Indiana In Redistricting Push
California Gov. Gavin Newsom Indicators Invoice Launching Redistricting Effort
