Missouri Senate Approves Trump-Backed Redistricting Plan Amidst Immediate Referendum, Legal Challenges

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Senate on Friday gave final legislative approval to a controversial redistricting plan, a move backed by former President Donald Trump, that could significantly aid Republicans in securing an additional U.S. House seat in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections.

The bill now heads to Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe, who has indicated he will sign it into law swiftly. However, the legislative victory was immediately met with fierce opposition, as advocacy group People Not Politicians, led by spokesperson Elsa Rainey, announced plans for a statewide referendum petition to challenge the new map.

“This fight is not over. Missouri voters — not politicians — will have the final say,” Rainey declared, signaling a protracted battle ahead. The redistricting effort is part of a broader national trend of mid-decade map adjustments, with states like Texas and California also redrawing congressional boundaries to gain partisan advantage.

Trump lauded Missouri’s new map on his social media, claiming it is “much fairer, and much improved” and will contribute to sending “an additional MAGA Republican to Congress.” The revised map specifically targets the Kansas City district held by Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, aiming to dilute its Democratic base by extending it into Republican-heavy rural areas and reducing its Black and minority population.

Cleaver, a long-serving congressman and former Kansas City mayor, strongly condemned the plan, vowing to challenge it in court and seek reelection in 2026. “Together, in the courts and in the streets, we will continue pushing to ensure the law is upheld, justice prevails, and this unconstitutional gerrymander is defeated,” he stated. Three lawsuits have already been filed, with a hearing on an NAACP-led challenge scheduled for Monday.

Democratic lawmakers and Kansas City residents have voiced profound concerns, with Sen. Barbara Washington describing the map as erasing the voice of her community and Roger C. Williams Jr., a former principal, likening the effort to historical discrimination. Republicans, including Senate President Pro Tem Cindy O’Laughlin, maintain the map strengthens Missouri’s conservative voice and ensures fair representation.

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