Mo. Democrats get help from DNC in fight against redistricting

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - National Democrats are zeroing in on an ongoing campaign aimed at preventing a newly signed congressional redistricting map in Missouri.

It comes a day after Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe signed a new law that redraws Missouri’s eight congressional districts.

The new map, pushed by President Donald Trump, would make the state’s 5th congressional district more competitive for Republicans. That district is currently held by Kansas City Democrat Congressman Emanuel Cleaver.  

In a statement, the chair of the Democratic National Committee announced the party would be assisting efforts to prevent the map from going into effect. Their main avenue to do this is through a voter referendum.

“The DNC won’t stand idly by as Republicans try to take the power away from the people — that’s why we’re partnering with Democrats on the ground to ensure Missourians choose their maps, not Trump or his Republican enablers,” DNC Chairman Ken Martin said in a statement.

The national party says they will deploy their well-funded apparatus to assist and coordinate with volunteers who are in a rush to gather more than 100,000 signatures from Missouri voters before a Dec. 11 deadline.

The redistricting was approved by the Republican-led legislature in a special session called by the governor.

“Missourians are more alike than we are different, and our values, across both sides of the aisle, are closer to each other than those of the congressional representation of states like New York, California, and Illinois,” Kehoe said in a statement announcing that he signed the new map. “We believe this map best represents Missourians, and I appreciate the support and efforts of state legislators, our congressional delegation, and President Trump in getting this map to my desk.”