Missouri Sends GOP Gerrymander to Governor as Dems Continue Fight

The Missouri Senate gave final approval Friday in a 21-11 vote to a gerrymander designed to rig the 2026 election by creating an additional Republican seat in Congress, at the expense of Kansas City voters. 

The Senate also gave final approval Friday to a bill that aims to restrict direct democracy by making it harder for Missourians to use the ballot initiative process.

Gov. Mike Kehoe (R) is expected to sign both measures into law.

Republicans pushed the map through the legislative process at breakneck speed, just over a week after the special session began Sept. 4. The Missouri House took its final vote Tuesday, sending the map to the Senate. A Senate committee approved it Thursday – though not a single Missouri voter testified in support of the bill during the Senate hearing.

Senate Republicans voted Friday to cut off debate on the measure and move forward with the vote.

Just after the vote, state Sen. Stephen Webber (D) said in a social media post: “Per instructions of the federal government the #MoLeg has passed the DC drawn gerrymander exactly as instructed without a single Senator ever having a chance to file a bill or offer an amendment. Complete capitulation to Donald Trump.”

Thousands of Missourians rallied against the gerrymander at the state Capitol Wednesday, carrying signs that called for fair maps.

Voting advocates are expected to fight the map in court. Missouri Democrats have said residents may challenge the map using the state’s citizen veto referendum process, as well.

The Senate also approved a measure that would make it more difficult for citizens to make changes to the law using Missouri’s initiative petition process. Under the bill, a ballot measure would need to receive a majority in all eight Missouri congressional districts in order to pass.