MDP Calls on GOP to Stop Playing Games with Peoples' Livelihoods
Matthew Patterson
Missouri Democrats call on Congressional Republicans to Stop Playing Games, Fund Healthcare and Food Benefits for Families in need.
September 12, 2025
Today, Republican State Senators followed earlier Republican House action to sell out Missouri voters by passing legislation to take away their voice in our federal government. Because of this illegal and unprecedented power-grab, the right to representation for hundreds of thousands of everyday Missourians is at risk. Republican Politician’s scheme is to rig the system because they fear voter backlash in the 2026 midterm elections due to their historically unpopular agenda that fails to address raising costs of living, cuts health care and other programs for regular people, and runs up the deficit to pay for more tax breaks for the wealthy. Elected Republicans in Jefferson City think they should have more power over voters and have forgotten that in Missouri VOTERS ARE THE BOSS. Democrats are committed to protecting the power of voters from these attacks.
“I think that the Republican politicians who voted for this illegal gerrymander and to take away Missourian’s power to vote on ballot issues, are sending a very clear message: they just don’t care,” said Russ Carnahan, Chair of the Missouri Democratic Party. “Even after thousands of everyday Missourians came to the Capitol to ask their legislators to stop this insanity,” he continued, “they passed it anyway. They don’t care about the will of the people, or about protecting our voice in government. Now it’s up to us to do what they won’t.”
A poll conducted a week before the special session showed clearly that rising costs, the economy and jobs were the top issues Missourians wanted their legislators to address. Redistricting was ranked at the bottom of other more important issues. And most telling by over a two to one margin 52-22 Missourians favored independent citizens commissions to draw congressional district lines rather than politicians.
Following passage by the Republican Senate, a coalition of community organizations announced an effort to take these rigged maps to a vote of the people. The MDP urges voters from all sides of the political spectrum to come together and resist this attack on the rights of our friends and neighbors, and sign up to get involved in the effort to put this question where it belongs: on a ballot, where the people of Missouri can decide what’s best for our state.
###
Media Contact:
Matthew Patterson, Executive Director
