Missouri Republicans are poised to redraw congressional maps in an unprecedented mid-decade power grab that could crush Democratic representation and hand Trump a crucial victory ahead of the 2026 midterms.
Trump Leads Charge for Missouri Map Overhaul
Former President Donald Trump has directly pressured Missouri Republican leaders to abandon traditional redistricting norms and redraw congressional maps before the 2026 elections. The Missouri Freedom Caucus publicly urged Governor Mike Kehoe to call a special legislative session in July 2025, explicitly citing Trump’s recommendations. Senate President Pro Tem Cindy O’Laughlin confirmed a special session is “likely,” signaling Republican unity behind Trump’s strategic push to maximize GOP congressional seats in the Show-Me State.
Constitutional Crisis Looms Over Mid-Decade Redistricting
Legal experts are sounding alarms about Missouri Republicans’ plan to redraw maps outside the normal decennial cycle. Attorney Chuck Hatfield argues the move violates Missouri law, citing the 2012 Pearson v. Koster precedent that restricts redistricting to periods following new Census data releases. The state constitution traditionally requires redistricting only after official population counts, making this mid-decade maneuver legally questionable. Missouri last redrew its congressional boundaries in 2022 following the 2020 Census, maintaining the current 6-2 Republican-Democrat split that Trump now demands be altered.
Kansas City Democrats Face Political Extinction
The Republican redistricting scheme directly targets Representative Emanuel Cleaver’s 5th District, which encompasses Kansas City and serves as Missouri’s primary Democratic stronghold. GOP leaders plan to split Kansas City’s concentrated Democratic voting power across multiple districts, effectively diluting urban and minority representation. Cleaver condemned the move as “outrageous” and warned it would “tear up the country,” recognizing that successful gerrymandering could eliminate Missouri’s last major Democratic voice in Congress and disenfranchise hundreds of thousands of voters.
Dangerous Precedent Threatens Electoral Integrity Nationwide
Missouri’s brazen redistricting attempt represents a dangerous escalation in partisan gerrymandering that could destabilize democratic norms across America. The explicit acknowledgment of partisan intent combined with Trump’s direct involvement creates a troubling precedent for other Republican-controlled states to abandon constitutional restraints on redistricting. This power grab undermines the foundational principle of fair representation, potentially encouraging similar schemes nationwide and eroding public trust in electoral fairness. Legal challenges appear inevitable, but the damage to democratic institutions may prove lasting regardless of court outcomes.
Sources:
Missouri Senate leader: Redistricting special session likely
Emanuel Cleaver slams Trump Congress redistricting Missouri
Missouri attorney says Trump’s timeline on congressional redistricting is unconstitutional
Congressman Cleaver says his seat is Republican target for redistricting