As Republican lawmakers in Missouri push forward with their plan to redraw district boundaries in an effort to remove Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver from his Kansas City seat, a new poll conducted by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) indicates substantial public opposition to the mid-cycle redistricting effort. The survey, which was conducted from August 29 to 31 and included 1,242 registered voters, found that 48 percent of voters oppose the move. In contrast, 37 percent support the change, while 19 percent remain undecided. The margin of error for the poll is ±3 percentage points.
Missouri legislative Republicans introduced their revised redistricting map on Wednesday, which Governor Mike Kehoe has called for swift approval. This effort in the Show Me State comes in the wake of a similar redistricting initiative in Texas, where Republicans are reportedly eyeing the opportunity to gain five new GOP-leaning seats. With the proposed map, the state is expected to add one Republican-leaning seat, leaving just one blue seat out of eight total districts.
Kehoe, a Republican, has been a strong advocate for the redistricting effort, and with Republicans holding a supermajority in the state’s legislature, the map appears poised to pass. The legislative process is expected to move quickly, as the governor has consistently supported the move. However, despite the political push for redistricting, the poll also highlights voter concerns regarding the fairness of the process.
The survey also included a question about support for a ballot initiative to create an independent redistricting commission. A majority of 52 percent of voters expressed support for the initiative, while 22 percent opposed it. This suggests a growing public interest in reforming the redistricting process. However, the state legislature is also working to block the ballot measure process, which could lead to further political tension and legal challenges.