Gov. Mike Parson signs bill revising the boundaries of Missouri’s eight congressional districts

Gov. Mike Parson signed the bill revising the boundaries of Missouri’s eight congressional districts Wednesday afternoon, officially ending the most contentious legislative battle of the year. The revised districts have already led to one candidate, state Rep. Sara Walsh of Ashland, withdrawing from her campaign for the open 4th District seat. Walsh on Monday lamented that all of her legislative constituents previously in the 4th District would now vote in the 3rd District, represented by incumbent U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, R-St. Elizabeth. As he signed the bill, Parson noted that he was a senator the last time a new map was drawn in 2011, and “it is never an easy process.” In a news release after the bill signing, Parson criticized members of the Senate conservative caucus who worked to block passage of the new map. “This past session, we saw a few individuals’ political posturing obstruct key pieces of priority legislation and promote inefficient and ineffective government,” Parson said. “It’s unfortunate so much time and productivity were lost just to receive a map with the same partisan split that was proposed six months ago.” No change in the partisan makeup of the Missouri delegation, currently six Republicans and two Democrats, is expected as a result of the map.