Missouri Governor Plans Special Session for Redistricting

Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe is reportedly considering calling a special session to revise the state’s Capitol map. On Friday, he updated reporters, mentioning that a formal announcement isn’t ready yet.

“When we’re prepared to announce, we’ll get it out there,” Kehoe said during a visit to the Missouri Soybean Association headquarters. He emphasized that there are “a lot of moving puzzle pieces” and that they’re ensuring everything fits together well.

This initiative coincides with ongoing pressure from former President Donald Trump, who has been urging Republican-led states to adjust their political maps to benefit GOP candidates in upcoming elections. Missouri currently has eight House seats, of which two are held by Democrats. The proposed changes particularly aim to alter the Fifth District, which includes Kansas City, potentially giving Republicans another seat aligned with Trump’s agenda.

Efforts of this nature are also taking place in Texas and California. Just last week, Trump hinted at the need to modify Missouri’s Capitol map.

“There’s greatness in Missouri. I’m not surprised… We’re going to win the Missouri midterm again,” he noted. Democrats, meanwhile, are using the situation to rally fundraising efforts related to the redistricting battle.

“This isn’t merely about one district; it’s about whether voters in Missouri get to choose their representatives or if politicians will ignore that and manipulate boundaries to favor specific voters,” a representative pointed out. Ashley Orne, the leader of the Capitol minority, criticized Kehoe, suggesting he’s merely following Trump’s directives.

“This full capitulation to the governor’s presidential will suggests that Donald Trump, not Mike Kehoe, is truly in charge in Missouri, with Kehoe acting more as a puppet responding to orders,” she expressed.