KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Missouri lawmakers are preparing for a special session on congressional redistricting as part of President Donald Trump’s push to draw more favorable maps for Republicans ahead of next year’s elections.
A document obtained by The Associated Press shows the Senate has received a $46,000 invoice to activate six redistricting software licenses and provide training for up to 10 legislative staff members.
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Senate Administrator Patrick Baker says he stands ready to pay the bill as soon as Republican Governor Mike Kehoe officially calls a special session.
While Kehoe expressed interest in redistricting Missouri’s congressional districts on Thursday at the Missouri State Fair, he didn’t commit to calling the special session.
“You want to make sure that what you’re doing is in the right direction and that you have as many people on board as possible,” Kehoe said in a news conference.
“And I’m not saying we are at that point or not at that point, but it’s a process when you think about that. It’s a big decision. It’s not something I take lightly.”
Republican House Majority Leader Alex Riley said a special session on redistricting is “pretty likely” to happen. Riley said he’s had conversations about it with White House staff, and discussions are already underway about what a new map could look like.
Six of Missouri’s eight congressional seats are currently held by Republicans. GOP lawmakers could target a Democratic-held district in Kansas City to pick up another seat.
Democratic leaders, on the other hand, argue that redistricting will create division in the legislature. However, dividing Kansas City could also make other GOP-led districts in the state more competitive for Democrats.
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In 2018 and 2020, voters passed an initiative to drastically change the redistricting process. According to the 2020 vote, state legislative districts are determined by two political commissions: one for state Senate districts and another for House districts.
The idea that legislators would redraw Missouri districts became apparent in early July, just a few years after a 2022 legislative session failed to submit a redistricting plan, which would have split Missouri’s Fifth District, by the deadline.
Redistricting now would create a similar split, making it harder for Rep. Emmanuel Cleaver to win reelection.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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