Another deep-red state is eyeing plans to redistrict amid a showdown in Texas, where Democrats made the stunning decision to flee the state to block Republicans from a mid-decade move to eliminate several Democratic-held seats.
Texas Democrats fled the state over the weekend to block the passage of a Republican-backed congressional redistricting plan that would likely give the GOP five additional U.S. House seats in the next midterm elections.
Critics have said the GOP redistricting effort, a top priority for national Republicans and President Donald Trump, is an intentional, racially discriminatory power grab. In response, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) ordered officials to arrest the Democrats, though such warrants have no effect once lawmakers are out of state.
On Monday night, Bloomberg reported that Missouri Republicans are plotting a similar move.
State Sen. Cindy O’Laughlin, the Republican president pro tem, said Gov. Mike Kehoe is mulling over a similar redistricting plan.
“He wants to be sure Missouri’s representation matches Missouri’s Christian conservative majority,” O’Laughlin told the outlet. “If he calls a special session to address this, we will of course take it up.”
A spokesperson for the governor told the outlet that talks are ongoing about such an effort.
U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), who stands to have his district redrawn to his detriment, called it a “political hijinks” and warned it could backfire on Republicans.
“This is highly divisive,” he said.