Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe signed a new congressional map into law Sunday, a key step in Republican redistricting efforts aimed at gaining a U.S. House seat before the 2026 midterm elections.
Kehoe Signs ‘Missouri First’ Map
The new map, called the “Missouri First map,” is projected to give Republicans a 7-1 advantage in the state’s U.S. House delegation.
Gov. Kehoe stated, “I was proud to officially sign the Missouri First Map into law today ahead of the 2026 midterm election.” He added, “We believe this map best represents Missourians.“
Former President Donald Trump called the new map “FANTASTIC.” He said it “will help send an additional MAGA Republican to Congress in the 2026 Midterm Elections.“
Map Targets Emanuel Cleaver Kansas City District
The plan specifically alters the Kansas City-area district represented by Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver.
It achieves this by incorporating more rural, right-leaning voters into his district.
Cleaver described the plan as “immensely unpopular” and pledged to take legal action against it. “I want to warn all of us that if you fight fire with fire long enough, all you’re going to have left is ashes,” he said.
Republican Redistricting Strategy for House Control
The move is part of a national GOP strategy to expand its narrow House majority before the 2026 midterm elections House control is decided. In a similar effort, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a bill aiming to create up to five new right-leaning congressional districts.
These efforts are designed to prevent a repeat of the 2018 midterms, when Democrats reclaimed the House.
Partisan Gerrymandering Debate and Democratic Response
Democrats are countering with their own redistricting efforts, intensifying the national partisan gerrymandering debate. Missouri House Minority Leader Ashley Aune accused Republicans of pushing to “rig our maps and eliminate our representation in Congress.” In California, a November ballot proposition could temporarily give the Democrat-dominated legislature power to draw maps with the goal of creating five more left-leaning districts.
Democrats are also exploring ways to gain more seats in states like Illinois and Maryland. They hope to gain up to three new left-leaning seats through redistricting in those states.
Future Legal and Political Battles
Beyond Missouri, Republicans in Indiana, South Carolina, Florida, Kansas, and Nebraska are reportedly considering their own GOP-friendly redistricting plans. Ohio is currently under a court order to draw new maps, and a judge in Utah has ordered the state’s GOP-controlled legislature to do the same.
This follows a situation four years ago when Utah lawmakers ignored an independent commission approved by voters.
