Missouri Legislature passes new Republican-drawn congressional map

Missouri’s state Legislature has passed a plan to redraw the state’s congressional map and turn Democratic Rep.

Missouri’s state Legislature has passed a plan to redraw the state’s congressional map and turn Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver’s district into a Republican-leaning seat, the latest move in a nationwide redistricting fight aimed at shifting the balance of power in Washington in next year’s midterm elections.

Just weeks after Texas successfully passed maps aimed at netting Republicans up to five more congressional districts, Missouri’s state House and Senate convened in a special session to redraw the lines to benefit the GOP. They had far less room to grow than Texas Republicans did, given that six of Missouri’s eight U.S. House seats are already represented by Republicans.

But the new map will carve up Cleaver’s district in the Kansas City area in the hopes of creating one new red seat there.

In between Texas and Missouri’s moves, California Democrats voted to place a measure before voters this November to temporarily override the state’s independent redistricting commission and draw new maps that could result in a gain of five Democratic seats.

Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe, a Republican, is expected to sign the new map into law. Kehoe called the special session as President Donald Trump urges Republican-led states to embark on rare mid-decade redraws aimed at shoring up his party’s majority in the House.