Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe announced today that on Sunday, he will sign the bill that allowed the state to redraw its congressional House district map, eliminating one of two Democratic-leaning districts while gaining another Republican-leaning one, bringing the total to seven.
The redistricting plan was approved by the state legislature during a special session that some Democrats say was illegal.
“After a thorough bill review process with our team, I am prepared to officially sign the Missouri First Map into law. Missouri’s conservative, common-sense values should be truly represented at all levels of government, and the Missouri First Map delivers just that,” Kehoe said.
The legislation comes at the direct command of President Donald Trump, who wants to better position Republicans to maintain control of the House during next year’s midterm elections.
“The White House designed the map. This map was not drawn in Missouri,” U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver said earlier this month. The new map eliminates his Kansas City-area district.
The new map, which has drawn significant criticism, splits the historically Democratic-leaning Fifth District into three Republican-leaning districts. Democrats decry it as a partisan gerrymander maneuver designed to dilute Democratic voting power in the state.