Missouri governor signs law approving Republican-friendly congressional district map

By Darren Lyn

HOUSTON, United States (AA) - Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe signed a law Sunday approving a new Republican-friendly congressional map to aid President Donald Trump's plan to retain the party's slim majority in the US House of Representatives, according to media reports.

Missouri's move follows in the footsteps of a similar move approved last month by the state of Texas to redraw a congressional map to potentially add five new Republican seats in Congress for the 2026 midterm elections and gain the partisan advantage, a process known as gerrymandering.

California countered that move by putting a measure on the ballot for voters on Nov. 4 to approve a congressional map in that state to potentially add up to five new Democratic seats in Congress.

"I was proud to officially sign the Missouri First Map into law today ahead of the 2026 midterm election," Kehoe said in a statement. "Missourians are more alike than we are different, and our values, across both sides of the aisle, are closer to each other than those of the congressional representation of states like New York, California and Illinois."

The congressional redistricting plan preserves two districts as currently drawn and keeps existing members of Missouri's congressional delegation in their districts. Kansas City will be split among the three separate districts in the new map.

"We believe this map best represents Missourians, and I appreciate the support and efforts of state legislators, our congressional delegation, and President Trump in getting this map to my desk," said Kehoe.

US House districts were redrawn across the United States after the 2020 census to account for population changes.

The new congressional map in Missouri could potentially add one more Republican seat, which is crucial because Republicans currently hold a razor-thin six-seat advantage in the US House of Representatives ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

The new law may not be the final action in enacting the new congressional map. Opponents are pursuing a referendum petition that if successful, would force a statewide vote on the new map.

Republicans currently hold six of Missouri’s eight House seats. The new plan could add a seventh Republican seat.

That seat could be critical in the 2026 midterms because Democrats only need to gain three seats to win back control of the House, which would allow them to obstruct any measures Trump introduces to Congress.

Historically, the US president's political party typically loses seats during midterms.

Trump is hoping to change that trend by adjusting congressional maps in multiple states to be Republican-friendly ahead of the 2026 elections.