From the desk of Senator David Pearce

Redistricting for U.S. Congressional Districts

A few weeks ago, I discussed the process of redistricting. Redistricting can happen every 10 years after the census results are released. In this case, even though Missouri saw a population growth of 7 percent, it did not keep pace with other, faster-growing states, so Missouri is losing one congressional district. While currently, Missouri has nine members in Congress that will be reduced to eight. Even though this process does occur every 10 years, the last time Missouri lost a congressional seat was 30 years ago.


As a member of the Senate Select Committee on Redistricting, we are charged with drawing the U.S. Congressional districts. I can tell you that many hours of work have gone into this proposed map and many more will be required to attempt to come to a consensus with a similar House Committee.

Recently, both the Senate and the House of Representatives released first drafts of their plan to redraw district lines. Ideally, the goal is to draw the districts with a target goal of 748,615 people per district, ensuring that every Missourian’s vote will count. That means that every legislative district has to change in some way.

For the 31st Senatorial District, the Senate’s map holds one major change. Cass County would be included entirely within the 4th Congressional District. It will no longer be split between two congressional districts. What would not change significantly is that Bates, Johnson, and Vernon counties all remain within that same district. That means that the whole of the 31st Senatorial District would finally be in one congressional district. However, the 4th Congressional District would change by losing Ray, Lafayette, and Saline counties to the north and extending the 4th District to the east to include the city of Columbia in Boone County.

Proposed map by the Missouri Senate

While the Missouri House and Senate are working to complete the congressional map, this week the House and Senate Apportionment Commissions began work by electing their officers and scheduling public hearings to hear testimony regarding redrawing lines for the state House and Senate maps. The first hearing will be held in Jefferson City on April 28. Both Commissions will also hold hearings around the state, including Springfield on May 23, Kansas City on May 24, and St. Louis on May 25.

As always, please feel free to contact me or my staff with any questions or concerns at any time. We look forward to hearing your comments and suggestions and trying to answer any questions you may have. You can reach us by phone at 866-277-0882 (toll-free) or 573-751-2272, or by fax at 573-526-7381.

Senator David Pearce serves Bates, Cass, Johnson and Vernon counties in the 31st State Senatorial District.