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Missouri House Republicans on Tuesday advanced a controversial congressional redistricting plan that would give the GOP control of seven of the state’s eight U.S. House seats, part of a broader mid-decade push launched by President Donald Trump to cement his party’s narrow majority in Congress.
The measure, which passed the Missouri House 90-65, redraws the 5th Congressional District — currently held by Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver — to make it more favorable to Republicans. The proposal now moves to the state Senate, where the GOP holds a majority.
“This map is much fairer, and improved,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post celebrating the move. He said the plan “will give the wonderful people of Missouri the opportunity to elect an additional MAGA Republican in the 2026 Midterm Elections.”
Trump-led redistricting push spreads nationwide
Missouri is the third state to take up new maps this year after Trump urged Republicans to revisit congressional boundaries ahead of the 2026 midterms. Texas passed a GOP-drawn map last month that shifted five Democratic districts to the right. California Democrats countered with their own plan to strengthen five Democratic-leaning seats, though voters must approve that map later this year.
Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson have framed the redistricting push as essential to protecting the party’s fragile House majority. Trump argued that given his past margins of victory in red states like Texas, Republicans are “entitled” to more seats.
GOP split and Democratic backlash
While the Missouri plan passed, several Republicans broke ranks to oppose it. State Rep. Dirk Deaton, a GOP backer, praised Trump’s involvement: “I appreciate the leadership of President Trump… of a congressional map that will better represent Missouri in Washington, D.C.”
Democrats quickly mobilized in opposition. The Democratic National Committee announced plans to flood Missouri with organizers, urging residents to submit public comment and attend a Wednesday rally at the state Capitol. DNC Chair Ken Martin denounced the proposal as “an attempt to silence dissatisfied voters.”
“Republicans know they’re in trouble,” Martin said in a statement. “Donald Trump and his party have ripped health care away from working families and jacked up prices on everyday goods in a self-serving plot to make the ultra-wealthy even wealthier.”
Legal and political risks
Redistricting typically occurs once a decade after the census, but Missouri’s plan — like those in Texas and California — uses older population data. That could create unintended consequences, according to Peverill Squire, a political science professor at the University of Missouri.
“None of this comes without any cost,” Squire said. “Mid-decade redistricting is risky, and it’s far from certain the outcome will be what Republicans want.”
Legal challenges are also expected. Courts are already reviewing the maps passed in Texas and California, and voting rights groups signaled they may challenge Missouri’s plan on constitutional grounds.
For now, Missouri Republicans are pushing ahead. GOP Gov. Mike Kehoe called the special session on redistricting last month, saying the state should not “stand idle” while Trump leads a nationwide effort.
