redistricting

In a little more than a week, the idea of redrawing Missouri’s congressional district lines has gained momentum among Republicans — with the explicitly partisan purpose of watering down Democratic voting power in the Kansas City-area 5th District, and forcing U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver out of his seat.

Missouri is one of many states facing pressure from President Donald Trump to redistrict before the 2026 midterm elections. The 5th Congressional District, which encompasses Kansas City, could be targeted — with the goal of forcing out Rep. Emanuel Cleaver.

President Trump is asking Missouri Republican lawmakers to re-draw its congressional districts around Kansas City, aiming to flip Rep. Emanuel Cleaver's seat. It's part of a larger push to redraw congressional lines to benefit Republicans ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

Missouri's Freedom Caucus is pressing Gov. Mike Kehoe to call a special session to redraw Cleaver's Kansas City-based district. Cleaver said that mid-decade redistricting would "tear up the country" by creating a "MAGA government."

If Missouri Republicans revamp their map to oust Kansas City Democrat Emanuel Cleaver, it could backfire at the ballot box — and in court. President Trump is publicly urging Republican-led states to pursue mid-decade redistricting to win more U.S. House seats.

While Republicans will still hold a supermajority in the chamber, House Democrats were able to gain three seats, giving them their largest numbers in years.

Republicans scored big wins from Eric Schmitt in the U.S. Senate contest and Scott Fitzpatrick in the auditor’s race, but Democrats came out on top in Missouri’s only competitive state Senate contest and gained in the House.

Republicans are in no danger of losing their legislative majorities in Missouri. Yet despite tough political headwinds, Democrats hope a new map that created more competitive districts will help them pick up seats.

Kansas’ 39th House District is predominantly white and for decades has elected Republicans. But new district borders and changing demographics have a first-time, African American candidate hopeful about her chances.

A Kansas law passed in 2021 made it illegal for one person to deliver more than 10 advance voting ballots on behalf of other voters, and puts additional restrictions on handling and verifying advanced ballots.

La representante demócrata del tercer distrito de Kansas está haciendo campaña en un distrito con recientes cambios geográficos que ahora favorece a los republicanos. Cree que los temas más importantes para los votantes son la inflación y el aborto.

The office of Jay Ashcroft, a Republican, filed an amicus brief in a U.S. Supreme Court case that could give state lawmakers the power to set election rules, draw congressional maps without any review by state courts, and potentially refuse to certify presidential election results.