Gerrymandering and the 6th District

The Republican Party has decided that short term gains are all that matter, regardless of the long term costs.

Here in Missouri, the Republicans have decided that bending the knee to the fake monarch in the White House and stealing away Emanuel cleaver’s House seat is their best course of action. I have seen several variations of possible maps that the Republicans in Jefferson City may propose which would morph the shape of the 5th District so much that it would attempt to make it lean safely Republican. The idea of redistricting mid-decade, which means doing it early and unconstitutionally rather than waiting to align districts with the census results, shows how weak of a hand Republicans believe they have. They have a strong history of having to bend rules to the breaking point to squeak out victories. We all saw this on January 6, 2021 when the Republican party tried to overthrow the government with the fake elector plot, and we are seeing it again as Missouri Republicans are falling in line as quick as they can to appease the Trump White House with a hasty mid-decade gerrymander.

But selfishly, lets talk about what this redistricting could mean for the 6th District. The 6th District in the current form encompasses just over 29% of the state of Missouri. It spans from the Missouri River on the west to the Mississippi River on the east as well as sharing the north border with Iowa. As someone who has been traveling across north Missouri talking with people for months, my opinion is that the proposed Republican maps are likely to help rather than hurt the efforts of Democrats to win back the 6th District. Sam Graves is already an unpopular (or entirely unknown) long-term incumbent who refuses to have town halls or interact with his own constituents. If the Republicans want to make my life easier and give me less ground to cover, go right ahead!

If the Republican Party shifts the map of congressional districts and adds the more populated areas around north Kansas City, it would likely only help us and our campaign. Also, they may have to shift counties south into a redrawn 5th District which may reduce the overall square mileage of the 6th District.  This plan of theirs has a real shot of backfiring. I think we have a legitimate and historic chance to knock Sam Graves into retirement in 2026.

My campaign is all about listening, learning, and building bridges between the rural and urban areas to grow the Democratic Party. 

I have already been to over a dozen towns across rural north Missouri, as well as staying focused on the northern Kansas City metro area. I think we are poised for success with a lot of continued efforts. If the Republicans decide they must gerrymander, it would be good to remember all the ways it will backfire over time.  Last but certainly not least, Democrats are working together to take back our government. I know Democrats from every other House race across Missouri, and if the district maps are redrawn, we will all be sharing efforts to adapt and overcome. Do not forget to support your local races!