Missouri governor signs redistricting legislation that could lead to additional Republican House seat

Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe on Sunday signed redistricting legislation that could add another Republican House seat. The local Fifth Congressional District, currently represented by Democrat Emmanuel Cleaver, will be divided into three districts under the new map.

“I was proud to officially sign the Missouri First Map into law today ahead of the 2026 midterm election,” Kehoe said, according to “The Epoch Times.” “We believe this map best represents Missourians, and I appreciate the support and efforts of state legislators, our congressional delegation and President Trump in getting this map to my desk.”

The legislation preserves two congressional districts as they are and retains all current members of Missouri’s congressional delegation in their current respective districts, according to the governor’s office. The Missouri House passed the bill on September 9 before advancing to the state Senate, which passed it on September 12.

President Donald Trump said earlier this month that the new congressional map would help Republicans secure an additional U.S. House seat in next year’s midterm elections.

“It was my great honor to win Missouri six times, including primaries, in 2016, 2020 and 2024, and this new map will give the wonderful people of Missouri the opportunity to elect an additional MAGA Republican in the 2026 midterm elections,” he said.

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Previously, Missouri’s Fifth Congressional District encompassed most of the Kansas City metropolitan area. Going forward, the district will be absorbed into a new, mostly rural Fifth District in western-central Missouri south of the Missouri River; a redrawn, mostly rural Fourth District in western Missouri; and a redrawn, mostly rural Sixth District covering most of Missouri north of the Missouri River.

“Missourians are more alike than we are different, and our values, across both sides of the aisle, are closer to each other than those of the congressional representation of states like New York, California and Illinois,” Kehoe said. “We believe this map best represents Missourians, and I appreciate the support and efforts of state legislators, our congressional delegation and President Trump in getting this map to my desk.”

Opponents of the redistricting plan are expected to release a referendum petition that could force a statewide vote on the congressional map.