Missouri GOP considering special session to gerrymander state even more

Republicans in Missouri, who control the state legislature and governor’s mansion, are reportedly considering calling a special session this year to redraw the state’s congressional maps.

#MOLEG Conservative wing now calling for Gov. Kehoe to bring lawmakers back for an extraordinary session on redistricting and IP reform. https://t.co/ZQlHphtCL3

— Gregg Palermo (@GreggPalermo) July 25, 2025

Republicans already control six of Missouri’s eight congressional seats, but Gov. Mike Kehoe (R) is considering gerrymandering the state even more to give the GOP seven seats and help Republicans keep their majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“Governor Kehoe and his team are aware of the redistricting efforts in Texas and discussions are always being held to ensure that conservative Missouri values are represented in Washington,” Gabrielle Picard, a spokeswoman for Kehoe, told Spectrum News.

The Texas state legislature, which is also dominated by the GOP, is currently holding its own special session to bolster their majority in the state’s congressional delegation. Republicans are expected to face a tough midterm cycle in 2026 after Trump’s slew of unpopular policies.

Democrats have attempted to federally abolish gerrymandering on multiple occasions over the past decade with no Republican support. In 2021, when Democrats had majorities in Congress and control of the White House, the For The People Act was brought to a vote and passed in the U.S. House on party lines. Senate Republicans blocked the bill with a filibuster, requiring the legislation to receive 60 votes to pass instead of 51. Former U.S. Sens. Joe Manchin (D-AZ) and Kyrsten Sinema (D/I-AZ) refused to abolish the filibuster to pass the bill.

In addition to mandating nonpartisan commissions for redistricting in each state, the bill would have also introduced public financing for campaigns, a code of ethics for the Supreme Court of the United States and sweeping voting rights expansion, including mandatory same-day voter registration and early voting.