Missouri Senate approves new congressional map; Trump praises lawmakers' work

Charlie Keegan, KSHB 41's political reporter, spent the week in Jefferson City to bring coverage of both sides of the redistricting fight. Share your opinions and political story ideas with Charlie.

The Missouri Senate voted 21-11 on Friday afternoon to pass legislation that would redraw the state's congressional districts.

The legislation, House Bill 1, passed the Missouri House earlier this week.

The bill now goes to the desk of Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe.

Kehoe released a statement after the bill passed in the Missouri Senate:

"The Missouri FIRST Map has officially passed the Missouri Senate and is now headed to my desk, where we will review the legislation and sign it into law soon," Kehoe said in the statement. "The legislature also passed critically needed IP reform, giving Missouri voters the chance to protect our Constitution at the ballot box."

"I want to thank the bill sponsors and handlers in the House and Senate, Republican leadership, and every member of the legislature for their work this week."

President Donald Trump praised Missouri lawmakers for their successful effort to redraw congressional districts in the state.

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Voters will now have 90 days to get enough signatures to put the final decision in their own hands at the polls.

Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II, whose district would be drastically altered in the new map of congressional districts, released a statement on today's action by the Missouri Senate:

“Despite tens of thousands of Missourians taking the time to call their state lawmakers and travel to Jefferson City to voice their opposition, Republicans in the Missouri Legislature followed the marching orders dictated by power brokers in D.C. and took the unprecedented step of enacting mid-decade redistricting without an updated census.

“While I’m grateful to the lawmakers in both parties who refused to go along with this power grab, I’m deeply disappointed that Missouri’s Legislature put the wishes of Washington above the voices of their own constituents and the needs of our communities. Whether it is families in Kansas City, the labor community, the business community, or the faith community, I know that the people of Missouri share in that disappointment.

“However, I want to be very clear to those who are frustrated by today’s outcome: this fight is far from over. Together, in the courts and in the streets, we will continue pushing to ensure the law is upheld, justice prevails, and this unconstitutional gerrymander is defeated.”

KSHB 41 News reporter Alyssa Jackson detailed the next steps available in a report earlier this week. You can watch in the video player below.

Kansas City, Missouri, Mayor Quinton Lucas also expressed disappointment with today's vote:

"Missouri legislators are silencing the voices of Missourians across our entire state—not just in Kansas City, but in towns like Kingsville and Knob Noster," Lucas said in his statement. "It's deeply frustrating and disappoints me. This gerrymander represents nothing more than a political attack orchestrated by Washington elites. Make no mistake: this isn't about representing Missourians or defending our interests. It's about suppressing our voices, especially those of Kansas City residents."

The maps included in HB 1, dubbed the Missouri First Map, was part of Kehoe's call for a special session to redraw the maps earlier this month.

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If signed by Kehoe, the new districts would split the Kansas City area into three different congressional districts from the current two.

Earlier this week, KSHB 41's Charlie Keegan filed a report explaining the Missouri redistricting process. You can watch his report in the video player below.

KSHB 41 reporter Charlie Keegan covers politics in Kansas, Missouri and at the local level. Share your story idea with Charlie.

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