The redistricting wars continue, with both California Democrats and Texas Republicans moving ahead with their plans to redraw congressional maps in their favor. Golden State Gov. Gavin Newsom still has to get voters to approve his plan in November to go around the state’s independent commission and further gerrymander their already ridiculous maps, but Lone Star State Gov. Greg Abbott signed Texas’ redrawing measure on Friday. Texas Dems have vowed to continue the battle in the courts.
Meanwhile, New York’s Kathy Hochul and Illinois’ JB Pritzker have also made noises about possibly joining the fray (but seriously, how much more could you possibly carve up Illinois?).
And as Bonchie wrote earlier in August, Missouri was considering joining the battle—and now they have, with the blessing of President Donald Trump.
Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe announced Friday that he will convene the state’s General Assembly for a special session next week to redraw congressional maps as Republicans push to create more GOP-leaning districts ahead of the 2026 midterms.
Kehoe said in a statement outlining the move that for the special session starting Wednesday he is directing the state’s Republican-controlled Legislature to “take action on redistricting” to ensure districts “truly put Missouri values first.”
Trump applauded the move:
The president’s message is long – you can read the full text here, but here it is in part:
GREAT Governor Mike Kehoe, of the Wonderful State of Missouri, which I love and won SIX times, including with 1.8 Million Votes in 2024 (by far the most Votes in History!), 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…
THANK YOU MISSOURI - MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!
READ MORE: Missouri Enters the Chat on Redistricting, As Gavin Newsom's War Blows Up in His Face
Can't Make It Up: Reporter Makes Wild Discovery on Gavin Newsom's 'Stop Election Rigging' Website
As Bonchie wrote, it’s only one seat, but as the Scottish proverb goes, “many a mickle makes a muckle”:
A special session to make a 7-1 map in favor of Republicans seems imminent, and with the White House behind the push, it's going to be very difficult for more moderate GOP members of the state legislature to stand in the way. And while you might think, "It's just one seat," all of these moves add up. Texas has added five GOP-leaning seats with its new map. California wanted to match that, but even its new map will likely only yield a four-seat pickup. With Missouri joining the fight, Republicans will finish ahead of Democrats.
Kehoe explained why he’s taking action:
“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,” he said.
This will surely not be the last salvo as the redistricting wars rage on. As of now, the advantage would appear to be on the side of the GOP—and that’s even if voters in California are bamboozled enough to pass Newsom’s naked power grab in November.
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