The Missouri House convened a special session on Wednesday with the primary aim of redistricting and possibly removing Democratic U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver from office while significantly limiting initiative ballot petitions.
With House Democrats minimally capable of thwarting their Republican colleagues, lawmakers are anticipated to approve a new congressional map from a recently formed redistricting committee by Thursday.
Governor Mike Kehoe initiated the special session to alter Cleaver’s Kansas City-centric 5th District into a seat that favors the Republican party.
Additionally, the governor is advocating for a voter referendum next year on whether specific constitutional amendments should necessitate approval through both a statewide vote and a majority in all eight congressional districts, instead of just a simple majority.
This push for redistricting comes amid increased pressure from President Donald Trump, who has urged GOP-led states like Missouri, Texas, Indiana, and Florida to adjust their congressional lines in preparation for the 2026 midterm elections.
As the Republican party holds a slim majority in the U.S. House, the politicization of redistricting is seen as crucial, especially since the president’s party often experiences losses in midterm elections.
Should the Democrats reclaim control of the House, it could impede Trump’s objectives and potentially subject his administration to numerous investigations.
In contrast, voters in California are also preparing to vote on creating a redistricting map that may enhance Democratic representation; Illinois and Maryland are likewise considering similar actions.
State Rep. Richard West, the chairman of the newly established House redistricting committee, expressed his expectation for the committee to proceed with passing the new map on the same day.
West, who previously supported a map producing seven Republican-leaning seats and one Democratic-leaning seat in 2022, criticized that plan for risking the competitiveness of districts held by GOP Reps. Mark Alford and Sam Graves.
However, he asserted that the proposed 7-1 map represents the voting trends of Missouri residents over recent elections, stating, “If you look at our state the way we’ve been voting in the last few years, I think we’ve become a more Republican state.”
West made a distinction, noting that the state has not become more conservative but has become unequivocally more Republican.
Despite the Republicans’ strategic momentum, there exists a palpable concern among Democrats who denounce the special session as a potential misstep for the GOP.
Jen Kruse, a 43-year-old resident of Tipton, protested outside the Missouri Capitol ahead of the special session, brandishing a sign that read, “Once a cheater, always a cheater.”
Kruse vehemently opposes the Republican-led redistricting efforts, which she interprets as “cheating the voters.”
She warned, “They called Texas the canary in the coal mine, if we are not such a warning right now … take a look at us.”
The special session began with what is termed a technical session, allowing lawmakers to introduce bills and send them to committees without engaging in substantive legislative debate.
Nonetheless, tension was evident as state Rep. Elizabeth Fuchs attempted to raise a point of order questioning the lack of a quorum.
Her effort was dismissed, leading her to allege that GOP leaders were “conforming and upholding the illegal cheating and gerrymandering that’s happening here.”
Fuchs pledged that Democrats would make it challenging for Republicans, stating, “If they are going to change the will of the voters, if they are going to take away our votes, change the congressional maps and do Trump’s bidding, we are going to make this very, very hard.”
Unlike Democrats in Texas, who have used walkouts to deny Republicans a quorum, Missouri House Democrats face limitations that curtail their options.
House Minority Leader Ashley Aune, representing Kansas City, suggested that Republicans likely prefer Democrats to remain absent from sessions as it simplifies their agenda.
Aune pointed to the pressure Trump has exerted on lawmakers, noting, “He was directly threatening lawmakers in Indiana over redistricting, and I think that folks are just afraid that they’re going to lose their seats.”
She continued by asserting that Republicans in Missouri are anxiously clinging to their influence and are too willing to accept the directives of the federal government.
Despite Trump’s influence and pressure, West downplayed the notion that this would sway GOP members who previously rejected the redistricting map in 2022.
He mentioned a shift in leadership in Missouri, claiming, “Our new leadership does want the 7-1 map, and I believe that leadership will trickle down to the members of the House and eventually the Senate.”
Some Republicans remain cautious, contending that the revamped 5th District may not guarantee a Republican victory.
Rep. Kemp Strickler, a Republican from Lee’s Summit, expressed that given national trends and voter dissatisfaction, there remains a solid possibility that the 5th District may continue to support a Democratic candidate.
Strickler explained, “I think there’s a good chance that Missouri’s 4th District could go Democratic, because it’s splitting out some of the areas of Kansas City that vote very, very heavily.”
In addition to redistricting, Missouri Republicans have proposed changes to initiative petition processes that, if approved by voters, would stipulate certain amendments must pass not only statewide but also in each of the eight congressional districts.
This proposed change would not affect constitutional amendments that originate from the legislature.
Had the newly proposed requirements been in effect during 2024, the successful Amendment 3, which concerns abortion rights, would have needed support from voters across all eight congressional districts to be enacted.
Conversely, the legislative-backed proposal to repeal much of Amendment 3 set for the 2026 ballot would only require a statewide majority to pass.
Aune criticized this perceived double standard, stating, “I think it’s just another example of the GOP commitment to rules for thee, but not for me.”
This sentiment echoes a broader frustration within her party regarding the GOP’s handling of voter representation.
Secretary of State Denny Hoskins, during the special session, commented that he doesn’t anticipate any legal challenges arising from a two-tiered voting system.
Hoskins elaborated that introducing distinct thresholds for constitutional amendments considered by legislators makes sense because those measures undergo a thorough vetting process.
He stated, “There are hearings where people can come and testify, both for and against. You can have amendments that are offered to that ballot measure.”
In contrast, he pointed out that initiative petitions lack this level of scrutiny, adding, “there is no vetting, there are no hearings, there is no time for public input and public testimony at the state Capitol.”
Public sentiment remains against making constitutional amendment processes more arduous, as demonstrated by recent voter rejections of similar initiatives in Ohio and Arkansas.
In Missouri, there’s been significant support for progressive initiatives, including expansions to Medicaid, legalization of marijuana, and minimum wage increases.
Kay Park, from the League of Women Voters of Missouri, warned, “Requiring a majority in all eight districts will be virtually impossible to pass the initiative petition and would effectively silence the voice of the people.”
The House Elections Committee is set to discuss the new initiative petition regulations, a development that underscores the ongoing battle over voter power and representation in the state.
image source from：stlpr
