Missouri’s Republican Governor Mike Kehoe officially enacted a new congressional map this past Sunday, a move that could bolster the GOP’s hold on the House of Representatives, although multiple legal challenges are already on the horizon.
The newly minted map is anticipated to jeopardize the position of Democratic Representative Emanuel Cleaver come next November, reports The Beacon, a local news organization.
“I was proud to officially sign the Missouri First Map into law today ahead of the 2026 midterm election,” Kehoe stated in a press release.
“We believe this map best represents Missourians, and I appreciate the efforts and collaboration of state legislators, our congressional delegation, and President Trump in bringing this map to fruition,” he added, seemingly relishing in the political maneuvering.
In an intriguing twist of political timing, Kehoe had urged a special session from the General Assembly as early as August, coinciding with President Donald Trump’s stirring of conversations nationwide regarding red states taking advantage of redistricting opportunities to favor Republican candidates.
Notably, the Department of Justice previously warned Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott that, “It is the position of this Department that several Texas Congressional Districts constitute unconstitutional racial gerrymanders,” raising concerns about redistricting tactics across the country.
Prompted by these revelations, Texas legislators opted to redraw their districts earlier than most, as it is customary for congressional maps to remain unchanged until the next census in 2030.
This proactive approach could potentially secure Republicans five additional seats in the forthcoming midterms, thereby opening a floodgate for GOP-dominated states like Missouri, Florida, and Indiana to explore similar redistricting strategies.
Countering this political chess game, the NAACP is challenging the legitimacy of Missouri’s map, arguing that Kehoe overstepped his bounds by convening an “extraordinary session” specifically for redistricting.
Moreover, legal disputes have multiplied—two lawsuits have emerged: one from a private entity on behalf of state residents, and another from the Missouri ACLU, both citing the mid-census timing of the map’s passage as a contentious point, as reported by The Beacon.
The ACLU placed a spotlight on a particular precinct in Kansas City appearing in two different districts simultaneously; Kehoe attributed this anomaly to a Census Bureau error, asserting that this confusion does not infer that voters belong to multiple districts.
Addressing other concerns regarding the map’s legality, Kehoe remarked, “We’ll let the courts decide on that,” maintaining an air of confidence in the face of potential legal scrutiny.
State rules governing redistricting vary. In most instances, including Missouri and Texas, authority rests with the legislature and the governor to approve maps, while some states operate under non-partisan election commissions or a hybrid system.
Missouri’s legislative framework allows for congressional redistricting by the legislature, with the governor holding the final approval power. However, the timing of this map and accompanying allegations of racial bias have sparked significant left-leaning legal challenges.
This contentious issue could ultimately ascend to the Supreme Court, hinging on how lower courts navigate these challenges.
In an interesting development, The Beacon also noted that a grassroots organization called People NOT Politicians aims to gather 110,000 signatures by year-end to prompt a ballot initiative regarding this mapping endeavor.
Should this initiative succeed, the new map would only take effect if endorsed by a majority of Missouri voters statewide.
“We wouldn’t have entered into this process without confidence in the advice we’ve received,” Kehoe asserted. “I trust the experts we’ve consulted and firmly believe we can withstand all these challenges.” In a political landscape fraught with contention, time will tell whether these assertions hold true amidst the unfolding legal battles.
This article originally appeared on The Western Journal.
