Missouri legislature sends new congressional map to governor

Source: Roll Call

Posted September 12, 2025 at 3:12pm


The Missouri state legislature passed a new congressional map Friday, sending to GOP Gov. Mike Kehoe a new set of districts that would target one of the state’s two Democrat members of Congress. The 21-11 state Senate vote is the latest in a rising partisan gerrymandering war nationwide, with the new map splitting the Kansas City-area seat currently held by Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II. Two Republicans broke with their party and opposed the Missouri bill.

The nationwide redistricting push started with a new map in Texas, spurred by President Donald Trump and designed to eliminate several Democratic seats. California’s legislature responded with a proposed map, intended to eliminate several GOP seats, that will be subject to a state referendum this fall.

Missouri’s new map could face court challenges as well as a voter ballot initiative. In the map passed by legislators Friday, Cleaver’s seat is split and adds areas currently represented by Republican Reps. Bob Onder and Mark Alford, while shifting Republican-leaning areas throughout the state.

Cleaver testified before a state Senate committee on Thursday, according to the Associated Press. He did not vote in the House on Thursday morning. Democrats, including state Sen. Maggie Nurrenbern of Kansas City, criticized the map on the Senate floor for splitting the city for political advantage, particularly on old racial lines. Nurrenbern also criticized the state’s Republicans for crafting a map at the behest of Trump. “Nobody in Missouri drew these maps,” Nurrenbern said.

Read more: https://rollcall.com/2025/09/12/missouri-legislature-sends-new-congressional-map-to-governor/