Republican Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe is expected to give the thumbs-up to the Missouri Legislature’s GOP-led redistricting push that the state Senate approved on Friday. File Photo by Bill Greenbatt/UPI | License Photo
Sept. 12 (UPI) — Republican Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe has the final say on a congressional redistricting map that would split an existing House district seat held by Democrat Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II.
The Missouri Senate voted 21-11 on Friday to approve the redistricting map that the state’s House of Representatives already approved, Roll Call reported.
Two GOP members of the Missouri Senate broke ranks and voted against the redistricting measure as several state legislatures scramble to revise their respective district maps ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Six of Missouri’s eight congressional districts are held by Republicans, which narrows the state GOP’s redistricting options.
The revised map would affect Cleaver’s district in the greater Kansas City area.
Missouri Senate and House members drafted the proposed redistricting legislation during a special session that was convened several weeks after Texas lawmakers approved a redistricting map there, according to NBC News.
California lawmakers likewise have revised the state’s congressional district maps to offset potential GOP gains of up to five seats from the Texas redistricting effort, which California voters would have to approve.
Virtually all of the respective states’ redistricting efforts are expected to face legal challenges.