By Missouri Representative Mark Sharp
Editor’s Note: Below is an excerpt from Missouri State Representative Mark Sharp’s weekly newsletter:
Dear Neighbors,
I served as the Ranking Democrat on the newly formed Special Committee on Congressional Redistricting in the Missouri House of Representatives, where we considered House Bill 1. This bill is one of the most blatant power grabs I’ve seen in my time in public service. It strips a large portion of Democratic voters out of Missouri’s 5th Congressional District—which includes most of Kansas City—and shifts them into the 4th & 6th Congressional Districts, rural districts where the values and priorities of voters are very different from those of Kansas Citians.
This is a deliberate tactic by the Republican supermajority to pick their voters instead of allowing voters to pick their representatives. Even worse, the bill doesn’t just weaken the voices of Kansas City residents—it silences them by carving our community into three Republican-controlled districts. If passed, it would leave the Kansas City region without a single congressional seat that truly reflects our people, our priorities, or our values.
What makes this move even more disturbing is that it is unprecedented. Neither party in Missouri has ever attempted to redraw congressional lines in the middle of a decade without an up-to-date census. The census is the basis of redistricting, and bypassing it undermines the very foundation of representative democracy. Yet, despite the gravity of this decision, members of the committee were given a 120-page bill only one day before the hearing.
Critical information that should guide this process—population data, age breakdowns, voting demographics, and county splits—was entirely missing from the presentation. Out of respect for the legislative process, I urged the chairman, whom I hold in high regard, to delay action until we had the facts needed to make an informed decision. My request was denied. The bill was quickly forced to a vote, which was 10–4 along strict party lines.
It became clear that we were not there to do real committee work. We were there to rubber-stamp a map that appeared predetermined—written not to serve Missourians, but to serve the political interests of certain elected officials in Washington, D.C. This was not policymaking. It was partisan gamesmanship at its worst.
This week on the House floor, I again rose in strong opposition to House Bill 1. I reminded my colleagues that this process has been rushed and disgraceful. Even our own nonpartisan staff and analysts were not given adequate time or resources to provide the information any respectable legislative body would demand before attempting to redraw a congressional map. The lack of respect for Kansas City and for my community is not only disappointing—it is shameful.
The people of Missouri deserve better than this. Our votes should carry equal weight, and our voices should not be silenced to satisfy political agendas. Gerrymandering of this scale doesn’t just redraw lines on a map—it redraws the future of our democracy.
I will continue to fight for fair representation, for transparency, and for a process that respects the people of Kansas City. This is not about partisan politics. This is about ensuring that every Missourian, no matter where they live, has a fair say in who represents them.
Thank you for allowing me the honor of serving you in the Missouri House of Representatives. As always, I remain committed to protecting our community’s voice and standing up against efforts to diminish it.