Missouri next on Republicans’ radar for redistricting battle – Washington Examiner
The article discusses the Republican effort to influence redistricting in Missouri, aiming to redraw congressional maps to reduce Democratic representation. The White House is reportedly pushing to eliminate Rep. Emanuel Cleaver’s seat by dividing his district, aspiring to create a 7-1 Republican majority in Missouri’s congressional delegation. This would leave Rep. Wesley Bell as the state’s sole Democratic representative. Republican lawmakers, including Rep. Bob Onder, are actively pursuing this goal, although the state legislature’s session has ended and will not reconvene untill next year unless a special session is called. Cleaver has expressed firm resistance to the proposed changes, indicating he will continue to run and fight the redistricting efforts. The article also notes that similar redistricting battles are occurring in other states, such as texas, where President Trump is pushing for more GOP-favorable maps to increase Republican congressional seats. Missouri’s situation is intricate by legal protections like the Voting Rights Act safeguarding Bell’s district. The piece highlights the broader national conflict over redistricting as both parties seek to shape congressional power.
Missouri next on Republicans’ radar for redistricting battle
The White House is reportedly urging Missouri to redraw its congressional map to bump Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO) out of his seat.
The Trump administration wants to divide up Cleaver’s district to create a 7-1 Republican congressional delegation majority in Missouri. That would leave St. Louis Rep. Wesley Bell (D-MO) as the only Democratic representative in the state.
“The president’s team is serious about it,” Rep. Bob Onder (R-MO) told Punchbowl Tuesday. “I think they’re giving it a fair amount of thought.”
The outlet reported Onder fought for a 7-1 map in 2022, and is contact with Missouri lawmakers on it still.
“Most of them, I think, would be in favor,” Onder said.
But the state legislature’s session ended May 30 and won’t begin again until next year unless a special session is called by Gov. Mike Kehoe (R-MO) to address the redistricting.
Missouri had a tough process the last time they redistricted, and couldn’t get a 7-1 map.
“There are some things that no one, no matter how powerful or how important they are, can move through the Missouri Senate,” Rep. Eric Burlison (R-MO) told the outlet.
Cleaver signaled he won’t take moving his district’s lines “lay[ing] down,” and will run regardless.
“I’m a football player. I play football. When you tell me you’re going to run over me, then I become a little more physical. I’m not going to just lay down,” Cleaver said.
President Donald Trump wasn’t in the White House in 2022, as he is now. He’s pushed for states like Texas to redistrict and the state is calling a special session to do so. The president’s influence is felt much more often so far in his second term, so it’s possible Missouri could follow in Texas’s footsteps if Trump presses enough.
Texas redistricting could pick up as many as five congressional seats, Trump says.
“Texas will be the biggest one, and that’ll be five,” Trump told reporters on Tuesday.
Bell’s district is protected by the Voting Rights Act, so only one Democratic seat in Missouri could be taken by Republicans via redistricting.
REDISTRICTING BATTLES ERUPT AS TRUMP PUSHES FOR SAFER TEXAS GOP SEATS
As Republicans across the nation push to gain more House seats through redrawing congressional maps, Democrats have threatened to do the same in blue states.
“We can act holier than thou,” Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) said. “We can sit in the sidelines, talk about the way the world should be. Or, we can recognize the existential nature that is this moment.”
" Conservative News Daily does not always share or support the views and opinions expressed here; they are just those of the writer."
*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
