US state of Missouri passes redistricting plan that could give Republicans 1 more seat in Congress

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - Republicans in the Missouri Senate approved a plan Friday to redistrict their state that could give the party an additional seat in the US House of Representatives.

The state Senate's vote sends the redistricting plan to the desk of Missouri's Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe to be signed into law.

"Missouri Republicans just passed the bill to water down your vote and silence your voice in Congress. Their gerrymandered map that was drawn in D.C. now goes to the governor for his signature," Missouri Senate Democrats wrote on American social media platform X.

The effort is just the latest such initiative as Republicans seek to pad their electoral prospects heading into next year's midterm elections. The party in power typically loses seats in the federal legislature in a midterm election.

A previous effort to overhaul the congressional map in Texas was intended to give Republicans five additional congressional seats, but California quickly responded by launching an initiative to take away five Democratic seats in the staunchly liberal state.

Opponents of the redistricting plan in Missouri immediately launched a referendum initiative that would put the new map to a statewide vote.

"Now that the #MOLeg has officially passed the illegal, gerrymandered maps, what is next for everyday Missourians? Action! People Not Politicians is taking these maps to the voters!" the Missouri chapter of the People Not Politicians, anti-gerrymandering group, wrote on Facebook.

"We are filing a citizens’ referendum giving us 90 days to gather signatures to put this unjust map before voters on an upcoming ballot. Join the movement to gather signatures," it added.

Gerrymandering refers to the practice of manipulating electoral district lines in a manner that seeks to advantage one political party over another.