Kehoe calls special session to redistrict Missouri congressional maps

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe has announced a special session for next week over congressional redistricting.

Kehoe is bringing back lawmakers to redraw the state’s eight congressional districts. The special session is scheduled to begin Wednesday, Sept. 3 at noon.

The Missouri GOP-backed redistricting plan would redraw the 5th Congressional District, currently held by Kansas City Democrat Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, in an effort to make it more Republican-leaning.

Missouri’s eight seats are held by six Republicans and two Democrats, including Cleaver. The new maps would make it easier for the GOP to extend their delegation by one, leaving only one Democrat in the proposed 7-1 district setup.

Redistricting, the process of drawing the borders of districts for which a state’s elected officials are elected, is required once at the start of every new U.S. Census decade cycle. In the process, states must ensure that districts have populations as equal as possible when they are redrawn.

Although redistricting typically only occurs once a decade, some states may revisit their maps mid-decade if political leaders call for a special legislative session on the matter.

Kehoe's call for a special session comes hours after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed new maps into law for the Lone Star State. U.S. President Donald Trump has recently urged Republican-led states, including Texas and Missouri, to advance redistricting efforts in a broader national push to redraw political maps.

Missouri's special session will also focus on reforming the state's initiative petition process, something conservatives have long pushed for.

The extraordinary session is expected to overlap the September 10 veto session that is already scheduled.

“Today, I am calling on the General Assembly to take action on congressional redistricting and initiative petition reform to ensure our districts and Constitution truly put Missouri values first,” said Kehoe in a Friday news release. “This is about clarity for voters and ownership of our future, and I hope the legislature will work together to pass our Missouri First Map and critically needed IP reform.”

Many Missouri elected officials representing the Democratic Party oppose Kehoe's request for a special session.

“This move represents an alarming abuse of power and a blatant attempt to rig the electoral map for partisan gain,” said Russ Carnahan, chairman of the Missouri Democratic Party via a news release. “Rather than focusing on the pressing needs of Missourians, Republican leaders are bowing down to Washington politicians, playing political games and working behind closed doors to rig the rules in their favor because they are afraid of voter backlash in the midterm election from their unpopular agenda benefitting billionaires at the expense of working families. Missourians deserve better from the elected officials pushing for these changes.”

Missouri Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-5th District) , whose seat will likely be targeted in redistricting plans, shared the following statement, in part:

“I will not surrender the voices of the people who entrusted me to fight for them. The people of the Fifth District and I will fight relentlessly to ensure Missouri never becomes an antidemocratic state, where politicians choose their voters instead of voters choosing their representatives. In the courts and at the ballot box, we will demand that the rule of law is upheld, our voices are heard, and democracy prevails."

For Cleaver's full statement, click here.