KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A crowd of over 1,000 city workers, unions and local allies swelled Mill Creek Park on the County Club Plaza to protest Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe’s redistricting efforts in a Labor Day rally Monday.
Several entities were represented, rallying for fair wages and paid sick days, among other items. Attendees included Stand Up KC, Missouri Workers Center, SEIU Local 1, SEIU Healthcare, Missouri Jobs with Justice Voter Action, Missouri Voter Protection Coalition, Indivisible KC, 50501 KC and more.
“We take incredible risk to speak out, but it’s worth it every single time,” said Carter Taylor, legislative chair for the American Federation of Teachers 691 and a Kansas City Public Schools teacher. “Before, we could take this as a moment to celebrate, not so much anymore.”
In addition to rallying, groups also tabled to provide attendees with resources and informational materials.
The rally comes after Kehoe announced a special session in response to President Donald Trump’s nationwide push to redraw congressional lines ahead of the November 2026 midterm elections.
“I appreciate President Donald Trump for raising the level of conversation on this matter,” Kehoe said in a video posted to X late Friday afternoon.
Kehoe’s proposal includes a Missouri First Map that redraws the boundaries of the state’s congressional districts.
The new map puts the Plaza and downtown Kansas City, Missouri, under U.S. Rep. Mark Alford (R-4th District).
U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II (D-5th District) would have his district spread to mid-Missouri and the Lake of the Ozarks.
“It’s hurting human beings,” Cleaver said about this proposal. “We have a lot of losses coming toward us unless we are able to reverse this horrible decision.”
A spokesperson for Alford said he had family obligations Monday, but the spokesperson shared a post Alford made Saturday on X.
In the post, Alford says he stands behind Kehoe and plans to advance the America First agenda — no matter where district lines fall.
Cleaver, who’s been vocal in his opposition to this proposal, attended Monday’s rally.
“They messed with the wrong person if they thought I was going to lie down and let it go,” Cleaver said. “All these people came out because they’re concerned, and I think fear is a good word right now.”
Cleaver stated in the past he believes changing the boundaries of his district would make it easier for a Republican to win the seat.
Currently, six of the eight Missouri U.S. Representatives are Republicans.
It’s not the first time Cleaver’s seat has been in jeopardy, he said Monday.
He recalls being in a similar situation three years prior that failed, stating 57 Republicans voted against the past effort.
“There are a lot of people who don’t like it, but they’re remaining silent, and many of them are in the United States House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate,” Cleaver said. “There’s nothing logical about it except what the president said … he needed more seats because of his fear of losing the House in next year’s election.”
Rally attendees put a lot of focus on Missouri Speaker of the House Dr. Jonathan Patterson (R-District 30), who represents Kansas City suburbs protesters say are “most at risk in Missouri.”
They criticized Patterson for “trying to ram through the legislature new congressional maps that would break up Kansas City’s working-class communities and silence the voices of disproportionately Black and Brown voters in the 5th Congressional District.”
A spokesperson for Patterson shared a statement on his behalf:
“The governor has called the special session and every Missourian’s voice will have a chance to be heard through their elected representatives,” the statement read.
Several attendees say they plan to be at the state capitol in Jefferson City this week and next.
Wednesday’s special discussion won’t yield any day-of decision, but that’s expected to come within the next week.
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KSHB 41 reporter Rachel Henderson covers neighborhoods in Wyandotte and Leavenworth counties. Share your story idea with Rachel.