Missouri redistricting committee advances Republican-favored map
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
A Missouri lawmaker committee voted 10-4 to advance a new congressional map on Thursday afternoon.
Gov. Mike Kehoe last week called for a special session to redraw district lines for the state’s representation in the U.S. House of Representatives after President Donald Trump had suggested doing so weeks ago.
The map will now go to the House floor where it will be debated and amendments will be considered.
Redistricting has been highly debated for several weeks, with multiple states taking their part, including Texas and California. Democratic representatives have questioned the motives of the potential Missouri map, claiming they could lose a seat, if it is approved.
This committee heard from the public on House Bill 1, and then went into executive session right after to discuss the proposed legislation, committee chair Richard West (R-Wentzville) said Wednesday.
The meeting proceeded despite the NAACP's attempts to stop the session with a temporary restraining order, according to previous reporting. The organization argues it's illegal to redistrict outside of the 10-year census.
Throughout the meeting, Democrats questioned the Republican sponsor of H.B. 1, Rep. Dirk Deaton (R-Seneca), on what the demographics would be for the Missouri First Map districts.
Deaton didn't have the data on that, and Rep. Mark Sharp (D-Kansas City) tried to push the meeting for another week, so the committee could have extra time to reflect on it. However, the Republican map went for a vote anyway.
Rep. Yolanda Young (D-Kansas City) said the committee session was performative.
"There was just a lot of rituals that had to be done. There was no true committee work," Young said. "We didn't have the data we needed to weigh the issues."
Republicans claim the Missouri First Map splits fewer counties, but Democrats argue the new map would dilute Democratic votes.
The Missouri First Map would expand the Fifth District, which is primarily Kansas City's district, to also include portions of Boone County north and west of Columbia.
House Minority Leader Ashley Aune (D-Kansas City) filed her own proposed map on Thursday. That proposal keeps the Fifth Congressional District within the Kansas City area. Audrain, Boone, Cole and Miller counties would mark the westernmost counties of the Third Congressional District, stretching west to St. Charles County.
The National Democratic Redistricting Committee met Thursday morning to breakdown the intentions of the map.
"Despite overwhelming opposition from the people, Missouri Republicans are proposing a congressional map that would split apart the state’s most populous city and turn the Show-Me state into one of the most egregiously gerrymandered states in the country," said John Bisognano, president of the NDRC.
