Trump praises Missouri Republicans for considering redistricting
By: Alison Patton
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
President Donald Trump on Thursday morning on Truth Social praised Missouri Republicans for talking about redistricting.
No official plans have made yet, but a spokesperson from Gov. Mike Kehoe's office said the governor and lawmakers are considering options for a special session. Kehoe had publicly backed the idea earlier this month.
"As these discussions continue, I am confident the Senate will be prepared to act when the time comes," Missouri Senate President Pro Tem Cindy O'Laughlin (R-Shelbina) said.
Missouri has six Republicans and two Democratic representatives in the U.S. House.
Missouri Republicans, with the backing of the Trump Administration, want to redistrict the current congressional map, and split the Democratic pocket of Kansas City. Doing that would take a seat from the Democrats, leaving Missouri with a potential for up to seven Republicans representing the state in the house.
This one seat out of the 435 seats in the House might seem insignificant, but it could improve the Republican's odds, said Charles Zug, who is a political science professor at the University of Missouri.
Republicans hold a slim majority in the House. Based on history, the incumbent party typically loses some seats during the next election, Zug said. The other element that gets added to this mix is other states redistricting.
Majority-Republican Texas and majority-Democratic California have advanced ideas of redrawing their districts. Zug indicated both states could see as many as five additional seats added to their majority party's total.
If both states are successful, then the opposing parties are back at equilibrium, Zug said. Zug said he thinks Missouri will wait to see what happens between those two states before doing anything.
State Rep. Adrian Plank (D-Columbia) said he thinks Kehoe will wait until at least after the veto session on Sept. 10. Plank, and most Democrats, are opposed to redistricting.
"What happens with redistricting, especially in a way they're trying to do it now, is they're trying to pick their voters instead of the voters pick their representation," Plank said.
A number of protesters voiced their opinions against redistricting at an event this past Saturday outside the Missouri Capitol. An ABC 17 News poll from Aug. 5 found 81% of respondents were against the idea.
