Missouri House Democrats received a show of support from former Vice President Kamala Harris as they continued a days-long protest over redistricting ahead of this week’s critical votes.
Three lawmakers — Elizabeth Fuchs of St. Louis, Ray Reed of St. Louis County, and Jeremy Dean of Greene County — have been sleeping on the House floor, demanding their voices be heard after special sessions last week were convened and adjourned in seconds. The Democrats argue the sessions were illegal, citing the absence of a quorum.
Harris called the lawmakers Sunday night, offering encouragement and emphasizing that they “are not alone” in the fight. According to a video posted by Reed from inside the Capitol, Harris acknowledged the personal and professional risks the lawmakers face, including threats to their committee assignments.
The standoff comes as House Republicans plan to hold a quorum on Monday to pass a new congressional map that could remove Representative Emanuel Cleaver from office. The Senate is expected to vote on the proposal on Wednesday.
Republicans are also pursuing a separate bill that would make passing ballot measures more difficult. According to reporting from the Missouri Independent, the legislation aligns with a request from Governor Mike Kehoe, requiring a majority of voters in all eight of Missouri’s congressional districts, in addition to a statewide majority, to approve any constitutional amendment or state law on the ballot.
An analysis by the Missouri Independent notes that under the proposed system, just 156,000 voters — roughly 5.3% of the statewide electorate — could defeat a ballot measure. If passed, the constitutional amendment altering the ballot measure process would go before voters in a statewide referendum and require a simple majority to enact.
Unlike the ballot measure changes, the proposed congressional map would not be subject to a statewide vote, meaning lawmakers could approve it without direct voter input.
The protest by Fuchs, Reed, and Dean highlights the deep partisan divide over redistricting and voter access in Missouri. As the House prepares to reconvene, all eyes are on the Capitol, where the outcome of this week’s votes could reshape both representation in Congress and the state’s ballot measure process for years to come.
