Photos: Missouri Lawmakers steamroll passage of Trump-led redistricting, and ballot initiative changes
Missouri's Republican State Senators passed their bill on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025 aimed at cementing another GOP seat in congress via new congressional maps. The plan would redraw the lines of the Kansas City-based 5th District long held by Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver. Democrats fought the measure all week, but failed, while dismayed protesters swarmed the Capitol to register their chagrin.
Missouri State Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer, R-Parkville, center, shares a laugh with fellow Sens. Mike Cierpiot, R-Lee’s Summit, left, and Rusty Black, R-Chillicothe, on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, following a special session during which GOP lawmakers passed measures to redraw Missouri’s congressional district map and to take a ballot measure to voters that would make it harder to change the state constitution.
Missouri State Sen. Angela Mosley, D-Florissant, listens as the final vote is taken on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, during a special session in which GOP lawmakers passed measures to enact Congressional redistricting and to ask voters to make it harder to change the state constitution.
Missouri Senate President Pro Tem Cindy O’Laughlin, R-Shelbina, second from left, signs legislation at the dais on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, as fellow members Sen. Brad Hudson, R-Cape Fair, Sen. Rusty Black, R-Chillicothe, and Sen. Jason Bean R-Holcomb look on after ending a special session during which GOP lawmakers passed bills to re-draw Missouri's congressional district map and to take a ballot measure to voters that would make it harder to change the state constitution.
Missouri State Sen. Barbara Washington D-Kansas City speaks on the floor on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, during a special session in which GOP lawmakers passed measures to limit the power of voters to initiate laws and re-draw Missouri's congressional district map to send more Republicans to Washington D.C., a move opposed by Washington and her caucus.
Missouri State Sen. Doug Beck, D-south 51ºÚÁÏ County, center, gathers for a press conference with fellow Democratic senators on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, following a special session during which GOP lawmakers passed measures to limit the power of voters to initiate laws and re-draw Missouri's congressional district map to send more Republicans to Washington D.C., a move opposed by their caucus.
Missouri State Sen. Steven Webber D-Columbia questions a colleague on the floor on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, at the Missouri capitol in Jefferson City.
People talk in the hallway of the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City, on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025. A special session was called to discuss redistricting the congressional districts of Missouri.
Sen. Maggie Nurrenbern, D-Kansas City, calls for an appeal for a ruling from the dais on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025, after the Missouri Senate gaveled in a special session to take up bills by GOP lawmakers to change Senate rules and enact redistricting laws.
U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver waits to enter the Missouri Senate chamber on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025, as lawmakers gaveled in a special session to take up the GOP bill on redistricting. Cleaver, who represents a significant portion of Kansas City, stands to lose his seat under the new district map.
U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver addresses a Missouri Senate committee on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025, during a special session to take up bills by GOP lawmakers that will change Senate rules and enact redistricting laws. Cleaver, who represents a significant portion of Kansas City, stands to lose his seat under the proposed district map.
Missouri Senate Minority Leader Doug Beck, D-51ºÚÁÏ County, reacts during a fiscal oversight comittee vote at the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City, on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025. The comittee voted to move House Bill 1 and Joint Resolution 3 to the executive session for a final vote.
Missouri State Sen. Rusty Black, R-Chillicothe, grabs his papers and coffee as the Senate comittee adjourns during a special session at the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City, on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025. The comittee voted to move House Bill 1 and Joint Resolution 3 to the executive session for a final vote.
Sen. Maggie Nurrenbern, D-Kansas City, reacts during a fiscal oversight committee vote at the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City, on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025. The comittee voted to move House Bill 1 and Joint Resolution 3 to the executive session for a final vote.
Missouri Senate Minority Leader Doug Beck, D-51ºÚÁÏ County, reacts between debates on the Senate floor on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, at the state capitol in Jefferson City.
Missouri state Sen. Cindy O’Laughlin, R-Shelbina, listens during debate from her seat on the Senate floor on Wednesday Sept. 10, 2025, at the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City.
Missouri State. Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer, R-Parkville appears on the Senate floor on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, at the Missouri capitol in Jefferson City.
Missouri Senate Minority Leader Doug Beck, D-51ºÚÁÏ County, left, questions fellow member Steven Webber, D-Columbia, right, on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, on the Senate floor regarding proposed rules changes at the Missouri Capitol in Jefferson City.
Protesters and activists opposed to new redistricting laws proposed by Missouri GOP legislators file into the gallery above the Missouri Senate floor in Jefferson City on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, to monitor a hearing on the measure. The Republican plan will increase the number of Republican representatives Missouri sends to Washington D.C.
Protesters and activists opposed to new redistricting laws proposed by Missouri GOP legislators hold a rally in the Capitol rotunda in Jefferson City on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, to denounce the measure.
Protesters and activists opposed to new redistricting laws proposed by Missouri GOP legislators hold a rally in the Capitol rotunda in Jefferson City on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, to denounce the measure. The Republican plan will increase the number of Republican representatives Missouri sends to Washington D.C.
Protesters and activists opposed to new redistricting laws proposed by Missouri GOP legislators chant in a full Capitol rotunda in Jefferson City on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, for a rally to denounce the measure. The Republican plan will increase the number of Republican representatives Missouri sends to Washington D.C.
Protesters and activists opposed to new redistricting laws proposed by Missouri GOP legislators hold a rally in the Capitol rotunda in Jefferson City on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, to denounce the measure. The Republican plan will increase the number of Republican representatives Missouri sends to Washington D.C.
Protesters against redistricting efforts by Missouri GOP legislators chant in the Capitol rotunda on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, during a rally denouncing proposed laws that would likely increase the number of GOP representatives Missouri sends to Washington, D.C.
Protesters against Republican-led initiatives to redistrict Missouri’s Congressional seats and to limit voters’ ability to change the state Constitution rally in the State Capitol rotunda on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, in Jefferson City. Photo by Christian Gooden, 51ºÚÁÏ
Missouri State Rep. Elizabeth Fuchs, of 51ºÚÁÏ addresses a full rotunda of supporters with other Democratic lawmakers on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, during a rally in the capitol against redistricting laws being written and passed by Republicans that will increase the number of Republican representatives Missouri sends to Washington D.C.
Missouri State Rep. Ray Reed, center right, of Brentwood, addresses a full rotunda of supporters with other Democratic lawmakers on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, during a rally in the capitol against redistricting laws being written and passed by Republicans that will increase the number of Republican representatives Missouri sends to Washington D.C.
Protesters against GOP redistricting efforts display signage in the capitol rotunda on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, during a rally denouncing law written and passed by Republicans that will increase the number of GOP representatives Missouri sends to Washington D.C.
Christian Gooden | Post-Dispatch
Photographer
Liz Rymarev | Post-Dispatch
Photographer
JEFFERSON CITY — Republican senators gave Democrats roughly four hours to debate new congressional maps Friday before forcing a vote on a bill…
The decision came without debate. Republicans used a procedural move to force a vote.Â
