Republican Governor Signs New Congressional Map Into Law, GOP Expected To Gain Additional House Seat

Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe signed the state’s new congressional map into law, which is expected to give Republicans one additional House seat in the 2026 midterm election.

The new map splits the Kansas City-area district currently held by one of the state’s two Democratic House members.

“Missouri’s conservative, common-sense values should be truly represented at all levels of government, and the Missouri First Map delivers just that,” Kehoe said, according to Roll Call.

On Sunday, Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe signed the Missouri First maps into law. The new map redraws the boundaries for Missouri’s congressional seats, including breaking Kansas City into three separate districts.https://t.co/jQKhqVASW1 pic.twitter.com/7rXWXon9l2

— KSHB 41 News (@KSHB41) September 30, 2025

Roll Call shared further info:

Missouri’s new map carves up the Kansas City-area 5th District currently held by Democrat Emanuel Cleaver II. It adds rural areas currently represented by Republican Reps. Bob Onder and Mark Alford to Cleaver’s district and shuffles other areas throughout the state.

Earlier this month the state’s House and Senate passed the new map in a special session called by Kehoe, joining Texas and California in a new wave of partisan-fueled redistricting started by President Donald Trump.

“I was proud to officially sign the Missouri First Map into law today ahead of the 2026 midterm election,” Kehoe said.

“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,” he added.

BREAKING: Missouri Governor Kehoe has officially signed the state’s new U.S. Congress maps into law, reducing Democrats to only ONE SEAT

Another Republican gain in Congress

KEEP PUSHING! MORE OF THIS! pic.twitter.com/ICiQKjF8ef

— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) September 28, 2025

More from Fox News:

Trump, in a social media statement following passage in the GOP-dominated state legislature, called the new map “FANTASTIC” and said it “will help send an additional MAGA Republican to Congress in the 2026 Midterm Elections.”

The new map targets longtime Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver’s Kansas City-area district by shifting it eastward to include rural right-leaning voters. The new map would likely flip Cleaver’s seat and give Republicans a 7-1 advantage in the state’s House delegation.

Cleaver has vowed to take legal action if the new map is signed into law by the governor.

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“I want to warn all of us that if you fight fire with fire long enough, all you’re going to have left is ashes,” Cleaver said earlier this month as he testified in front of a Missouri Senate committee.