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By Hannah Parry
Associate News Editor
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Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe unveiled a new redistricting map Friday, just hours after Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed his state's new districts into law.
Missouri is the latest Republican-controlled state to consider redistricting after Texas was able to successfully create five new GOP‑leaning congressional districts out of 38. The move is expected to give Republicans a major advantage heading into the 2026 midterms.
In his announcement, Kehoe called for a General Assembly special session on September 3 to discuss enacting the legislation, which he said would "ensure our districts and Constitution truly put Missouri values first."
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Why It Matters
President Donald Trump announced last week that Florida, Indiana, "and others" were looking to follow in Texas' footsteps to redraw their districts. Combined with the administration's efforts to halt mail-in voting, Trump estimated the redistricting could allow Republicans to "pick up 100 more seats."
Trump's push for redistricting comes as the GOP maintains a very narrow majority of just seven in the House. With the 2026 midterms looming, and the incumbent party typically losing seats during such elections, Republicans have been scrambling to boost their numbers.
Meanwhile, Democrats, who have launched their own counter-redistricting effort led by California Governor Gavin Newsom, have been increasingly hopeful about their chances in the House as Trump's approval rating continues to falter in recent polls.
What To Know
On Friday, Kehoe called on Missouri lawmakers to work together to pass the new "Missouri First Map."
"This is about clarity for voters and ownership of our future," he said. "Missourians are more alike than we are different, and our Missouri values, across both sides of the aisle, are closer to each other than those of the extreme Left representation of New York, California, and Illinois.
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"Missouri's conservative, common-sense values should be truly represented at all levels of government, and the Missouri First Map delivers just that," he added.
Trump was quick to praise Kehoe in a social media post on Friday, saying the session would create a "new, much fairer, and much improved, Congressional Map."
However, Governor Newsom denounced Kehoe and his fellow Republican governors as "weak and pathetic" for bowing to pressure from the president.
Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin echoed Newsom's statement, warning that Kehoe's decision to "cave" to the demands of Trump came at the expense of Missouri families.
The new map will split fewer counties and municipalities that at present, and will reserve just two congressional districts as currently drawn.
Kehoe made the announcement after the new Texas map, which had passed the House and the Senate, was signed into law on Friday, giving Republicans another five seats.
Several other Republican states also appear to be following suit, with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announcing earlier this month he was open to mid-decade redistricting, which could gain another three GOP seats in his state.
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun, who is also facing pressure from the Trump administration to use his Republican majority to redraw the districts, said recently that he was not yet decided but that he and fellow lawmakers were "considering it seriously."
Meanwhile, Newsom is leading the Democratic response and has announced plans to balance out Texas's gains by redistricting his own state to create five new blue seats.
Maryland has also floated the possibility of redistricting plans in the near future.
What People Are Saying
Missouri Governor Kehoe said in a statement on Friday, "For far too long, Missouri's Constitution has been the victim of out-of-state special interests who deceive voters to pass out-of-touch policies. It's time we give voters a chance to protect our Constitution."
President Trump said in a Friday Truth Social post, "GREAT Governor Mike Kehoe... just called a very Special Session to begin passage of a new, much fairer, and much improved, Congressional Map, that will give the incredible people of Missouri the tremendous opportunity to elect an additional MAGA Republican in the 2026 Midterm Elections — A HUGE VICTORY for our America First Agenda, not just in the "Show-Me State," but across our Nation."
DNC Chair Martin said in a statement Friday, "Another Republican governor just caved to the demands of Donald Trump at the expense of Missouri families and American democracy."
Gov. Newsom wrote on X, "These Republican Governors are weak and pathetic — drooling at the mouth for an opportunity to give Trump whatever he wants. Game on."
What Happens Next
California voters will decide whether to approve Newsom's redistricting bid in November. In Florida, Republican leaders have formed a "Select Committee on Congressional Redistricting" to explore the possibility of redrawing its districts.
Update 08/29/25 7:32 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
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