Kansas City has benefited from influence in Congress. Why that power could diminish
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Graves’ retirement could reduce Kansas City’s transportation funding influence.
- Gerrymandered map makes Cleaver vulnerable and may cut KC’s Democratic seats.
- A newer, less experienced delegation may struggle to secure federal projects.
Over the last two decades, Kansas City leaders have often leaned on U.S. Rep. Sam Graves to jumpstart projects across the sprawling region.
One of Missouri’s most influential lawmakers, Graves, a Republican, helped secure funding for the new Buck O’Neill Bridge and the so-called “Flintlock Flyover” in Liberty. He steered money to Kansas City International Airport and assisted with expanding the city’s streetcar project.
Throughout his 26 years in Congress, and particularly in recent years as chair of the powerful House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Graves has held enormous sway over how the federal government funds the nation’s transportation projects.
And Kansas City has long benefited from that power.
“Sam was absolutely instrumental in just about every federal infrastructure project that has happened over the last decade in this region,” said Matt Roney, a prominent consultant who previously handled federal affairs for the City of Kansas City.
But with Graves set to retire and not seek reelection, Kansas City stands on the brink of losing a seat at one of the most important tables in Congress.
Graves’ planned retirement, which he announced Friday, also coincides with a Republican-led effort to push out of office Kansas City’s longtime Democratic congressman, U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, through a new, gerrymandered congressional map.
Together, the potential departures of two of Kansas City’s most experienced lawmakers — one on his own terms, one forced — could play a role in shaping the city’s future and diminish its ability to secure local priorities at the federal level.
“Losing one or both of those strong, long-term, long-serving leaders in Congress who have represented the Kansas City area is absolutely a concern,” said House Minority Leader Ashley Aune, a Kansas City Democrat. “That should really concern people about the ability to bring resources back to our community.”
Graves retirement
After Graves announced his planned retirement last week, a chorus of tributes rolled in from across party lines. Those comments largely served as a testament to the staunch conservative’s willingness to work across the aisle to secure funding for his district.
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, a Democrat, said Graves helped deliver “some of our community’s most important projects over the past generation.” Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe, a Republican, said he “served with humility, working hard to deliver real results for Missouri families.”
In interviews with The Star, politicians, consultants and other political experts touted Graves’ ability to use his influence in Washington to bolster Kansas City’s most important projects.
“What you’re losing is somebody who, over the course of a long career, earned respect on both sides of the aisle, was effective and was especially attentive to the needs of his district and the greater Kansas City area,” said John Hancock, a former chair of the Missouri Republican Party.
“And,” he said, “you’re losing those years of institutional effectiveness going forward.”
Critics, however, argue that Graves’ political weight within the walls of the U.S. Capitol made him virtually unseen outside of it. Some constituents argue the Republican from Tarkio has not been receptive to their concerns throughout his 13 terms in Congress.
Graves’ exit has sparked intense speculation about his potential successor to represent Missouri’s 6th Congressional District, which stretches across northern Missouri and touches Kansas City’s Northland.
Political experts and politicians acknowledge that Graves’ successor likely will not — at least immediately — have the same political clout. In the world of Trump-era politics, that successor also may not have as much motivation to work across the aisle.
“Serving in Congress, for a lot of people, has become performative — it’s getting media hits and talking to your base,” said Hancock. “And less about effectiveness inside the building and Sam was effective inside the building in a way that is becoming increasingly rare.”
Kansas City has largely had to rely on its House delegation for federal funding, as Republican Sens. Josh Hawley and Eric Schmitt have refused to participate in a process known as earmarks that steers funding back to the state.
Graves has thrown his support behind Chris Stigall, a national radio host from northern Missouri. Kansas City councilman Nathan Willett also filed to run for the seat after Graves’ announcement.
“Kansas City will continue to hold its own on the federal level, but Chairman Graves has been proud to play a role in many major infrastructure projects over the years, in Kansas City and across North Missouri and the state,” Graves spokesperson Bryan Nichols said in a statement.
Cleaver at risk
As Republicans fight over who will succeed Graves, several candidates are also hoping to unseat Cleaver, who’s represented Kansas City in Congress since 2005.
Facing pressure from President Donald Trump, Republican lawmakers gerrymandered the state’s congressional districts to make it more difficult for Cleaver to win reelection. The map slices through Kansas City, splitting the city’s voters across three Republican-leaning districts.
Cleaver, for his part, has also been hailed for bringing money back to Kansas City. In 2024, for example, the Democratic congressman secured $1 million for a local organization that operates a maternity home for pregnant and new moms between the ages of 12 and 21.
If Republicans are able to succeed in their efforts, Kansas City would be represented by three Republican representatives, two of whom would be freshmen. That would come as Democrats are hopeful they can wrestle back control of the U.S. House in the upcoming midterms, which would leave Kansas City’s representatives in the minority.
“It’s a blue city,” said Matt Harris, a political scientist at Park University, referring to Kansas City. “To have that represented by three Republicans, to have a 7-1 split for the Missouri House delegation, really doesn’t match what the state looks like, in particular, Kansas City. And so I think you do lose something there.”
Harris and Hancock both cautioned that Kansas City could still stand to benefit from the situation. But they both cited different reasons.
Harris pointed to the city’s Democratic tilt and the likelihood of Democrats winning the U.S. House in the coming November elections.
“If Democrats take the House, I think Kansas Citians, in a largely Democratic city, would be somewhat happy with that outcome, although understanding that they’re losing some of that local representation,” Harris said.
Hancock, instead, said Kansas Citians could ultimately benefit from having three representatives advocating for their interests in Congress. But he also acknowledged that two of those lawmakers will be in their first terms without the years of experience from Graves and Cleaver.
“They’re going to have to fight very hard,” he said.
Power in Kansas?
In a world where Democrats win the House — and Cleaver loses reelection — Kansas City’s most powerful voice in Congress may come from the western side of the state line. U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids from Kansas would be the region’s sole Democrat.
Davids, in a statement to The Star, pointed to Kansas City’s location at the center of the country and its role as a transportation and shipping hub as evidence of why “it’s so important we have a strong advocate at the table when decisions are made.”
“As a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I’m making sure we continue delivering the infrastructure, good-paying jobs and economic growth our region needs to stay competitive,” Davids said. “And I’m looking forward to keeping the collaboration going for the rest of Rep. Graves’ term.”
On the Missouri side, Kansas City will likely have to lean on its delegation — Hawley, Schmitt and U.S. Rep. Mark Alford — and their close ties to the Trump administration over the next few years. The federal makeup of Kansas City could also force city leaders to work closer with Republican state lawmakers in Jefferson City.
But, for now, some leaders remain worried about what happens next. A strong, bipartisan coalition has long protected Kansas City from partisan shifts in Congress, which can change party control every two years, said Aune, the Kansas City Democrat.
“With so much up in the air right now, I think that that is at risk,” Aune said. “I genuinely do worry about how Kansas City will fare after this election.”
