Missouri Gov. Kehoe signs Trump‑backed 'Missouri First' map likely to add GOP House seat
Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe signed the Trump‑backed "Missouri First" congressional map into law on Sept. 28, 2025, a mid‑decade redistricting move that redraws Rep. Emanuel Cleaver’s Kansas City district and is likely to give Republicans a seventh U.S. House seat after they already hold six of eight. The plan has drawn immediate partisan backlash—Democrats are racing to collect roughly 110,000 valid petition signatures by Dec. 11 to force a statewide referendum and multiple lawsuits, including one from the NAACP, have been filed amid a broader wave of similar redistricting fights in states like Texas and California.
Politics
Elections
📌 Key Facts
- On Sept. 28, 2025, Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe signed the Trump‑backed “Missouri First” congressional map into law.
- The map is designed to help Republicans pick up an additional U.S. House seat, explicitly targeting Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver’s Kansas City district; Republicans currently hold 6 of Missouri’s 8 House seats and aim to win one more.
- Kehoe said he “was proud to officially sign the Missouri First Map into law” ahead of the 2026 midterms, and former President Trump praised the plan on social media as “FANTASTIC,” saying it “will help send an additional MAGA Republican to Congress.”
- Opponents have launched multiple legal challenges—including a lawsuit from the NAACP contesting Kehoe’s authority to enact a mid‑decade map—and are collecting roughly 110,000 valid petition signatures by Dec. 11 to try to force a statewide referendum.
- News coverage places Missouri’s action in a broader mid‑decade redistricting push (also involving states such as Texas and California) and includes analysis using 2024 results that models potential congressional seat shifts (scenarios showing Republicans up to +6 and Democrats up to +5 in countermoves).
- Coverage notes that California’s mid‑decade plan would require voter approval in a November special election for it to take effect; the broader map analyses are based on 2024 electoral results.
📰 Sources (3)
Trump-backed map victory in Missouri could trigger redistricting battles in these states
New information:
- Direct quotes from Gov. Mike Kehoe endorsing the map and stating he 'was proud to officially sign the Missouri First Map into law' ahead of the 2026 midterms.
- President Trump’s direct social‑media praise calling the new map 'FANTASTIC' and saying it 'will help send an additional MAGA Republican to Congress.'
- Article notes immediate partisan responses: Democrats plan legal challenges and are collecting petition signatures to force a statewide referendum.
Maps show how redistricting could affect congressional seats
New information:
- Places the Missouri signing in a broader mid‑decade redistricting push that also includes Texas and California and quantifies potential net seat shifts (Republicans up to +6; Democrats up to +5 in countermoves).
- Notes the NAACP filed a lawsuit challenging Governor Kehoe’s authority to enact a mid‑decade map and says three other lawsuits have been filed over the Missouri map.
- Provides electoral context and maps based on 2024 results, and explains that California would require voter approval in a November special election for its plan to take effect.
Missouri Gov. Kehoe signs Trump-backed plan to help GOP win another U.S. House seat
New information:
- Governor: Mike Kehoe signed the map into law on Sept. 28, 2025
- Targets: Democrats’ Rep. Emanuel Cleaver’s Kansas City district; Republicans hold 6 of Missouri’s 8 House seats and aim to win one more
- Legal/political challenge: opponents need roughly 110,000 valid petition signatures by Dec. 11 to force a statewide referendum; multiple lawsuits (including an NAACP suit) have been filed