Republican Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe ordered the GOP-led General Assembly Friday to convene a special session to redraw the state’s congressional map.
The move comes a week after Texas state GOP lawmakers passed a contentious redistricting bill that could potentially add five Republicans seats to the US House of Republicans, and as California aims to cancel-out the Lone Star State’s effort with a new congressional map of its own.
“I have been reminded time and time again, through both good times and bad times, Missourians are more alike than we are different, and our Missouri values across both sides of the aisle are closer to each other than those of the extreme left representation of New York, California, and even as close as Illinois,” Kehoe said in a video posted on X.
“That’s why today I’m calling for a special session on congressional redistricting … to ensure our districts and constitution truly reflect Missouri values and put Missourians priorities first,” the governor added.
Six Republicans and two Democrats currently represent the Show-Me State in the House of Representatives.
The proposed map aims to give the GOP an advantage in at least one Democrat-controlled seat by reshaping Rep. Emanuel Cleaver’s (D-Mo.) Kansas City district.
Kehoe touted the so-called “Missouri First Map” as being “Simpler. Cleaner. Stronger.”
“This map was drawn here, made here, for here, by our team,” the governor said. “It splits fewer counties and municipalities than the current version while preserving two congressional districts as they currently stand – and it retains each member of Missouri’s current congressional delegation in their current districts.”
“Again, no existing member will be displaced.”
Kehoe’s proclamation calls for the special session on redistricting to begin on Sept. 3.
President Trump, who has pushed for GOP-led states to redraw their congressional maps to boost Republicans ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, praised the governor after his announcement.
“GREAT Governor Mike Kehoe, of the Wonderful State of Missouri, which I love and won SIX times, including with 1.8 Million Votes in 2024 (by far the most Votes in History!), just called a very Special Session to begin passage of a new, much fairer, and much improved, Congressional Map, that will give the incredible people of Missouri the tremendous opportunity to elect an additional MAGA Republican in the 2026 Midterm Elections — A HUGE VICTORY for our America First Agenda, not just in the ‘Show-Me State,’ but across our Nation,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“Our Party has never been more UNITED,” the president added, urging the Missouri Legislature to pass the new map “AS IS” and as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, Cleaver slammed the mid-decade redistricting push as an “unprecedented directive” and “unconstitutional attack” on democracy initiated by Trump.
“This attempt to gerrymander Missouri will not simply change district lines, it will silence voices. It will deny representation. It will tell the people of Missouri that their lawmakers no longer wish to earn their vote, that elections are predetermined by the power brokers in Washington, and that politicians – not the people – will decide the outcome,” the Democratic congressman said in a statement.
“[I]n attempting to dismantle the Fifth District, state lawmakers would be working to drown out Missouri voices in favor of a single man a thousand miles away,” Cleaver added. “It is my sincere hope that they will not give in to this short-sighted and irresponsible demand.”
“But let us be clear: Should this effort move forward, we will not concede.”
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