Missouri governor open to redrawing Missouri congressional seats, Black Caucus pushes back
Mitchell Kaminski
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Missouri Legislative Black Caucus strongly condemned President Donald Trump’s plan to redraw congressional boundaries during a press conference on Thursday.
Missouri is one of several states where Republican lawmakers are pushing for new congressional maps, aimed at gaining an edge in the U.S House of Representatives during the mid-term elections. With Republicans holding a slim 219–212 majority, both parties view the U.S. House as a battleground heading into the 2026 elections.
“This is a disgusting, shameful, power-grab that has never, ever been seen in modern American politics,” Missouri Legislative Black Caucus Chair Michael Johnson (D-Kansas City) said.
Gov. Mike Kehoe took questions from reporters after speaking during the opening of the Missouri State Fair on Thursday morning in Sedalia. A Kehoe spokesperson told ABC 17 News this week the governor has had several conversations with the Trump administration about Missouri redistricting.
“As I’ve told everybody, the way the maps have been drawn have been talked about since we drew them or the House and Senate drew them four years ago,” Kehoe said of the state’s current House district, which were drawn after the 2020 census. “Nobody’s been exactly happy with it, so looking at how that might be more compact and contingent, making sure that America’s voice matches Missouri’s values, and Missouri is a great conservative, Christian-value state, and I think we’re always going to try to make sure that we support [Republican House Speak Mike Johnson] and that we don’t have an alternative.”
State lawmakers traditionally redraw district maps based on census data every 10 years. The last redistricting took place in 2022. Because of this, state Rep. David Tyson Smith (D-Columbia) called the gerrymandering efforts unconstitutional.
“It is shameful that this idea would be floated,” Tyson Smith said. “This is not constitutional. The Missouri Constitution does not allow for redistricting unless there is an immediate census, and that has not happened. This is nothing but a power grab, a power grab by the Trump administration to maintain control of the House.”
Missouri Democrats contend the Trump administration feels threatened by a surge of rallies across Missouri and the rest of the country.
Missouri currently has six Republicans and two Democrats in the U.S. House. While no redrawn map has been released, Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Kansas City), who has served since 2005, would likely be the main target. Cleaver’s district currently has a high population of black and Hispanic residents.
“Congressman Clever does an excellent job working across the aisle, so for his seat to be under attack like it is, is an offense not only to him but to our community because he’s effective,” state Rep. Yolonda Fountain-Henderson (D-St. Louis) said.
Tyson Smith claimed Trump has no plans to leave the White House, citing newly released merchandise suggesting he intends to remain in power through 2028.
“This is his attempt to keep control of the House because that is the only body that can stop them at this point. We cannot allow him to do that, and this power grab is unconscionable. This is outrageous. We haven’t seen these times in the last 50, 60, 70 years of America,” Smith said.
Democratic-led states like California have responded by threatening to conduct their own redistricting. When asked if Missouri Democrats would consider the same tactic if they controlled the Legislature, they said yes. However, they currently lack the votes to block the plan. Democrats are instead aiming to mobilize voters statewide and potentially challenge the move in court.
State Rep. Marlon Anderson (D-St. Louis) accused Republicans of undermining the will of Missourians with their redistricting efforts. Anderson made references to the Missouri GOP rolling back voter-approved sick leave and attempts to challenge the legal status of abortion, which was also approved by voters.
“The Republicans of this state, time after time, undermine the will of Missourians. From Amendment 3 to Prop A and now the Missouri Congressional maps, the majority of whom believe that their voices are larger than Missouri. This is yet another attempt to further their agenda, while completely disregarding the will of Missouri,” Anderson said.
Kehoe said Thursday that he’s interested in “making sure America’s voice matches Missouri’s values” in Congress as the debate continues over whether Republican-heavy states should redraw their U.S. House maps. Kehoe claimed Democrats do not represent Missouri’s values.
The Trump administration has spoken with leaders in red states about redrawing their congressional districts to add more Republican-friendly seats to the U.S. House.
Several Missouri Republicans have expressed support for redrawing the maps, including state Senate leaders and the Missouri Freedom Caucus. However, Johnson claims not every Republican is on board.
“There are some Republicans, some of our Republican colleagues in this building, that don’t want to see this happen,” Johnson said. “And I know that for a fact.”