The Missouri House voted 90-65 on Tuesday to approve a new congressional map designed to eliminate a Democratic-held seat, moving Republicans closer to controlling seven of Missouri’s eight U.S. House districts, according to CNN.
The GOP-drawn map, backed by Gov. Mike Kehoe, targets Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver by splitting his Kansas City district and merging it with heavily Republican rural areas.
Cleaver vowed to challenge the map in court, while critics are considering a statewide referendum.
Missouri is part of a broader Republican push to secure House seats before the midterms, joining states such as Texas, Ohio and Florida in redistricting efforts that could give the party a significant advantage in Congress.
