Missouri handed a redistricting plan, the newest in a sequence of strikes triggered by Trump’s name on GOP-led states to redraw their congressional maps to assist preserve the social gathering’s slim Home majority.
SCOTT SIMON, HOST:
Missouri has joined the ranks of states answering President Trump’s name to assist Republicans win subsequent 12 months’s midterm elections. On Friday, the legislature handed a brand new congressional map that may flip a seat held by a Democrat right into a Republican-leaning district, as Trump had requested. This comes after Texas handed a map that might assist Republicans win 5 further seats there. California and another Democratic-led states are shifting to counter this in what’s turning right into a nationwide redistricting race.
We’re joined now by St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum. Jason, thanks for being with us.
JASON ROSENBAUM, BYLINE: Thanks for having me.
SIMON: Assist us perceive the controversy that went on there in Missouri. Why did Republicans say they handed this?
ROSENBAUM: Effectively, Missouri Republicans have informed me that because the state elects GOP candidates soundly on a statewide and state legislative stage, the congressional map ought to replicate the social gathering’s political dominance. In actual fact, Governor Mike Kehoe calls this map the Missouri First Plan. A number of GOP lawmakers, similar to Senate President Professional Tem Cindy O’Laughlin, say their motivation is to not let Democrats take management of the Home.
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CINDY O’LAUGHLIN: When the individuals in Missouri say, will we wish to be certain we ship as many Republicans to Congress as we will in order that President Trump can end out his 4 years in a powerful style? – the reply to that’s sure.
ROSENBAUM: GOP lawmakers like O’Laughlin handed the present map simply three years in the past. And again then, her Republican colleagues did not wish to goal Democratic Congressman Emanuel Cleaver. They feared it will make surrounding districts extra aggressive. However Trump himself known as Missouri Republican senators earlier this week to encourage them to go the brand new strains. And lots of lawmakers contend their constituents like Trump and can help retaining the Home in GOP palms.
SIMON: What sort of resistance did they get?
ROSENBAUM: Democrats specifically excoriated Republicans for being subservient to Trump and making an attempt to oust Cleaver, a veteran lawmaker who served as the primary Black mayor of Kansas Metropolis. Kansas Metropolis lawmakers, like state Senator Barbara Washington, say the map will in the end silence and dilute the voice of city Missourians.
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BARBARA WASHINGTON: One facet is representing the pursuits of the individuals and the voices of the individuals. And one other facet is representing the pursuits of energy, as a result of they wish to be in energy greater than they wish to assist their communities.
ROSENBAUM: Now, the Missouri governor is predicted to signal this quickly, however the map isn’t essentially a performed deal. A gaggle known as Folks Not Politicians plan to assemble greater than 100,000 signatures over a three-month interval to place the map up for a statewide vote. And in the event that they get these signatures, the map cannot go into impact in all probability till after the 2026 election cycle. In the meantime, two lawsuits have already been filed in opposition to the brand new map.
SIMON: Now, Jason, state legislatures, in fact, have the ability to redistrict. However this does come at an uncommon time, would not it?
ROSENBAUM: It’s extremely uncommon. In actual fact, virtually all states pursue redistricting straight after a census, which comes early within the decade. However with Republicans holding a really small majority within the Home, Trump and different Republicans consider that the social gathering must do all the things doable earlier than subsequent 12 months’s elections. If Democrats take the Home, they may block his agenda and launch investigations of his administration.
SIMON: Are you aware what different states, Jason, may be taking a look at this now?
ROSENBAUM: The massive one is California, particularly to counter the 5 Texas seats that are actually simpler for Republicans to win. Democrats in California are asking voters to approve a map that may assist them win 5 seats there. Within the meantime, Trump is asking Indiana, Florida and different Republican states to go new maps to assist the GOP, and extra might come.
SIMON: Jason Rosenbaum of St. Louis Public Radio, thanks a lot.
ROSENBAUM: Thanks for having me.
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