Following the announcement by Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe to call a special legislative session to further gerrymander the state’s congressional map, DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene released the following statement:
“Republicans are running scared, and they’ve decided their only hope for maintaining their majority is to pursue a cynical, unpopular scheme to gerrymander congressional maps. The Missouri constitution, business and community leaders, and common sense all support the idea of Kansas City remaining one, compact congressional district. Donald Trump and DC Republicans’ desire to hold on to power are the only rationale for this re-draw.
“This is simply the latest in a pattern of Republicans in Jefferson City ignoring the will of the voters. They are actively trying to roll back a woman’s right to choose and the expansion of paid sick leave after voters supported both measures last November. And now they’re trying to further supplant the will of Missouri voters by simultaneously introducing a trojan horse ‘reform’ package to also be passed in the special session that would gut the ballot initiative process.
“Their decision to call this special session will ultimately backfire on them. In an environment where Democrats are consistently overperforming in special elections since Trump was inaugurated and with growing public opposition to their failed agenda, re-drawing the Missouri map and pushing to eliminate voters’ ability to pass ballot initiatives are a pair of undemocratic, arrogant moves by Republicans, which Missouri voters will hold them accountable for at the ballot box.”
