The Republican-dominated Missouri state House approved a new U.S. congressional map Tuesday that would redraw Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver’s district, likely giving Republicans a 7-1 majority in the state.
The deep red state is one of the first to follow President Donald Trump’s call to participate in a nationwide redistricting fight, which kicked off in Texas and prompted a retaliatory push in California.
“Our Party has never been more UNITED, and we are getting so much done for the American People because of it, and, therefore, I call on all of my Republican friends in the Missouri Legislature to work as fast as they can to get this new Congressional Map, AS IS, to Governor Mike Kehoe’s desk, ASAP,” Trump posted to Truth Social last week.
Republican state Rep. Dirk Deaton, who introduced the legislation, previously said he spoke with the White House about approving the new map. Deaton said the redrawn maps are meant to form unity in congressional districts.
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“And it does not take away anybody’s ability to vote. This obviously changes no election law or how we vote or how elections are conducted other than the makeup of the congressional districts,” Deaton said last week. “And people are still entitled to vote for whoever they so choose.”
State Rep. Mark Sharpe, a Democrat, argued the new maps will push Cleaver into “early retirement.”
“Democracy is taking a devastating blow, one it might not recover from,” Sharpe said. “My city — Kansas City — hangs in the balance, right here, right now. I can’t tell you how angry I am.”
In a statement posted to social media, Ken Martin, chair of the Democratic National Committee, said the newly drawn map under Trump’s instruction is “corruption at its worst.”
“Democrats will continue to fight back every step of the way – and make no mistake, this fight in Missouri isn’t over,” Martin wrote.
The map goes before the state Senate this month, where it is expected to pass. Gov. Mike Kenhoe, a Republican, is expected to sign it shortly after.
He has urged lawmakers to adopt what he has dubbed a “Missouri FIRST” map.
Cleaver, currently in his 10th term in Congress, was previously the first African American mayor of Kansas City and is a senior member of the House Financial Services Committee.
He did not immediately respond to NOTUS’ request for comment Tuesday but told the Kansas City Star he intends to run for reelection regardless of the new maps.
“The government, in fact, is trying to redraw the nation’s conscience and the way this nation is going to function for our children and grandchildren,” Cleaver said during a press conference at a labor union event over the weekend. “We’re going to have to stand up and say, ‘No.’”
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