Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe has officially ordered a special legislative session for lawmakers to redraw the state’s congressional map, a move aimed at solidifying Republican control ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
The GOP currently holds six of Missouri’s eight U.S. House seats. Analysts expect Republicans to target at least one Democratic seat, likely the Kansas City-based 5th District represented by Democrat Emanuel Cleaver.
Special Session Set for Wednesday
Kehoe announced Friday that the General Assembly will reconvene in Jefferson City on Wednesday. Republicans hold a supermajority in both chambers, making passage of new maps highly likely despite anticipated legal challenges.
“Today, I am calling on the General Assembly to take action on congressional redistricting and initiative petition reform to ensure our districts and Constitution truly put Missouri values first,” Kehoe said in a statement.
The “Missouri First Map”
The governor unveiled what he called the Missouri First Map, which he said was drawn by his team. Kehoe argued the proposal would create more compact and contiguous districts, split fewer counties, and keep each U.S. Representative within their current boundaries.
“Missourians are more