Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe has signed a Republican-backed bill, supported by former President Donald Trump, designed to reshape the state’s congressional map in a way that could yield the GOP an additional U.S. House seat. The move positions Missouri among a handful of states where mid-decade redistricting could alter the balance of power in the closely divided House.
The legislation gives lawmakers a path to revisit Missouri’s current map—long characterized by a 6–2 Republican advantage—by adjusting the lines around the Kansas City area, where Democrats hold a safe seat, and potentially reconfiguring surrounding suburban and exurban districts. Supporters say the changes would better reflect recent population shifts and community ties; opponents call it an overt partisan gerrymander aimed at a 7–1 outcome.
Republicans, who hold supermajorities in the state legislature, argue that the new process will deliver clearer district boundaries and align representation with voter preferences. Democrats and voting-rights advocates counter that the plan could dilute the political influence of minority voters and urban communities, warning that dismantling or fracturing the Kansas City–area district would reduce competitive choices for voters.
The measure is expected to face immediate legal challenges, potentially in both state and federal court. Litigants are likely to test whether the map complies with constitutional guarantees and the Voting Rights Act, and whether mid-decade changes without a new census can be justified. How quickly the courts act will determine whether any new lines are in place for the next House elections.
Missouri is one of several states where control of the redistricting process could shape the national fight for the House majority. Recent court rulings in other states have spurred new maps or blocked proposed changes, adding uncertainty as parties battle for small but decisive shifts in seats.
Kehoe’s signature underscores Trump’s continued influence over state-level party strategy, especially on issues—like map drawing—that can have outsized impact on federal power. For voters and candidates, the immediate questions are timing and legality: when, and under what boundaries, the next Missouri House races will be run.
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