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Legislators

Missouri Congressman Threatens Lawsuit Over Gerrymandered Congressional Map

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver said he will take Republican-led gerrymandering efforts in Missouri to federal court if a plan to eliminate his Democratic-leaning seat in Kansas City is implemented. Cleaver, an 11-term Democratic congressman, criticized the proposed map, suggesting it would violate the U.S. Constitution due to outdated population figures and also run into issues with the Missouri Constitution.

Key Takeaways:

  • U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver has committed to filing a lawsuit against the Missouri Republican-led gerrymandering plan that aims to eliminate his Democratic-leaning seat in Kansas City.
  • The proposed map would carve up Kansas City, nearly all of which is currently in the 5th District, in order to create a new Republican-leaning district.
  • The intended result is a map where the GOP holds nearly 90% of the state's seats in the U.S. House.
  • The current map was drawn in 2022, following the U.S. Census, and mid-decade redistricting is rare in Missouri.
  • President Donald Trump has demanded GOP-controlled states redraw maps to add more Republican seats.
  • Cleaver believes the White House designed the gerrymandered map, citing the splitting of the Kansas City School District between two districts.
  • Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe called lawmakers back to the Capitol to redraw the state's congressional map.
  • The proposed map would violate the U.S. Constitution due to outdated population figures and also run into issues with the Missouri Constitution.

Statistics:

  • Missouri has eight congressional districts, with two held by Democrats.
  • The new map would carve up Kansas City, nearly all of which is currently in the 5th District, in order to create a new Republican-leaning district.
  • The intended result is a map where the GOP would hold nearly 90% of the state's seats in the U.S. House.
  • Mid-decade redistricting is rare, and in Missouri, it hasn't happened since the 1960s.
  • President Donald Trump's demand for GOP-controlled states to redraw maps to add more Republican seats is associated with the 2024 midterm election cycle.

Sources:

  • Missouri Independent. (2025, August 29). Missouri governor calls lawmakers back to Capitol to gerrymander congressional map.
  • Stateline's Jonathon Shorman contributed to this story.
  • This story was updated at 8 a.m. to clarify the current boundaries of the 5th Congressional District.

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