Missouri lawmakers opened a special session Wednesday called by Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe to redraw the state's U.S. House map for the 2026 election, the latest move in a growing national push by both parties to reshape districts midcycle for partisan advantage.
The session, which Kehoe said will run at least a week, would produce a revised map that Republican backers say would give GOP candidates a better chance of winning one of the state's current Democratic-held seats. Missouri is represented in the U.S. House by six Republicans and two Democrats.
The Missouri move follows a trend that began in Texas, where Republican lawmakers — at the behest of former President Donald Trump — initiated mid-decade redistricting to try to solidify GOP control of the U.S. House. Democrats in California responded with their own proposal to alter that state's congressional map in a manner they say would benefit Democratic incumbents and challengers; California's plan still requires voter approval.
Redistricting traditionally occurs once a decade after the U.S. Census, but state laws vary and several states do not bar lawmakers from redrawing maps in the middle of a decade. The U.S. Supreme Court has said there is no federal prohibition on partisan gerrymandering, effectively leaving such decisions to state courts and legislatures.
National implications are clear: Democrats need to gain three seats in the 2026 House elections to win back control of the chamber. The president’s party customarily loses seats in midterm elections, a historical pattern that both parties are trying to counter through strategic mapmaking.
Supporters of the Missouri special session argue the map change is a legitimate exercise of state legislative power to ensure districts reflect current demographics and political realities. Critics say midcycle redraws are aimed squarely at tilting the electorate for partisan gain and undermine voters' confidence in fair representation.
Similar efforts around the country have raised legal and political questions. While some states have independent commissions or judicial procedures that can block or approve redistricting plans, others place authority squarely in the hands of legislatures and governors. Lawsuits challenging maps often follow, but outcomes depend on state constitutions and courts.
The Missouri special session is expected to produce draft maps and legislative debate over the coming week. Any enacted map would reshape the 2026 congressional contests in Missouri and could prompt litigation from opponents who argue the new lines dilute minority voting power or violate state law.
As states pursue midcycle redistricting, the results will feed into a broader strategic landscape that includes candidate recruitment, fundraising and national party priorities. For 2026, both parties are closely watching how changes in state maps might alter the narrowly divided balance of the U.S. House and the prospects for control in what could be a pivotal midterm cycle.