Why GOP wants to divide KC + Butker’s PAC woes

Hello, Star readers,

Today, we’re diving into Republicans’ rapidly developing plan to gerrymander a Kansas City Democrat out of Congress and cripple the city’s political power in accordance with President Trump’s will.

Next, we’ll get into:

• PAC doink: Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker’s political action committee is low on funds. But here’s the thing: None of it has gone to political candidates.

• President ousted: Phil Baniewicz was fired as president of Bishop Miege High School amid an ongoing investigation into allegations of inappropriate behavior with a minor.

This week in politics

Cleaver, a former KC mayor and longtime Congressman, has been an outspoken Trump critic. Now, he’s the latest target in the GOP push to redraw district boundaries and shore up U.S. House majorities in 2026.

According to copies of emails obtained by The Star through an open records request, Gov. Mike Kehoe held a “principals only” meeting with top legislative leaders on Aug. 1 that included a discussion of joining the nationwide redistricting blitz.

Records, including emails between staffers for Kehoe and the lawmakers, suggest that momentum could be building for a special session to redraw Missouri’s Congressional maps.

“Governor Kehoe and his team are aware of the redistricting efforts in Texas and the calls for a special session in Missouri,” Gabby Picard, Kehoe’s director of communications, said in the email on July 29.

“Discussions are always being held to ensure that conservative Missouri values are represented in Washington. Governor Kehoe will always consider options that provide congressional districts that best represent Missourians.”

Cleaver’s diverse and politically progressive district has long been a target for Missouri Republicans, who see more potential to dilute Democratic power in Kansas City than in St. Louis, the state’s other blue-leaning stronghold.

More from this past week

• Gov. Laura Kelly selected a Johnson County attorney to be the next Kansas Supreme Court justice. Here’s why she could be the last justice appointed to the high court.

• In a court hearing, CoreCivic accused the city of Leavenworth of violating the Constitution and obstructing Trump’s immigration agenda by blocking its planned ICE prison.

• A foster care nonprofit that serves thousands in Missouri and Kansas is reeling from more than $1 million in funding cuts this year. These are the consequences.

Looking for more?

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That’s all for now! See you next week.