Redistricting Missouri would damage the Kansas City business economy | Opinion

It’s difficult to miss all the headlines about Missouri’s redistricting saga. Much has been reported on the politics and political rhetoric behind the effort to carve the current 5th Congressional District potentially into thirds. Under the most widely reported scenario, one portion of the current district would become part of Rep. Sam Graves’ district north of the Missouri River. A southern portion would become part of Rep. Mark Alford’s district that currently includes a smaller part of the southern Kansas City region. The remaining portion would extend east toward rural areas of mid-Missouri.

There is a critical piece of this public conversation that is missing from the narrative. This redistricting effort would dramatically damage the economy of the Kansas City region. During my time as president and CEO of the Heartland Black Chamber of Commerce, I’ve seen how fragile our economy can be, and how complicated regional planning efforts are.

The Kansas City area is home to major industries, nationally recognized universities and critical infrastructure, including airports, highways and federal facilities. Politically motivated gerrymandering introduces instability that would deter investment and furthermore complicate regional planning.

Each part of Missouri has unique economic development attributes. I do not see how Kansas City’s regional assets, opportunities and challenges are similar to the areas of the state that would share congressional representation with us if the 5th District were shifted under proposed plans. On a practical level, issues such as housing, crime and education in the Kansas City region are very different from outstate Missouri.

For decades, 5th District representatives have successfully secured millions of dollars in federal investment for infrastructure, public transit, small business support and community development. A few that immediately come to mind:

• The Bannister Federal Complex, at 95th and Troost, which could potentially add as many as 3,000 new jobs. 
• The $24 million revitalization of nearly 5 miles of Blue Ridge Boulevard in Grandview. This project is the largest infrastructure investment in Grandview’s history. 
• A $30 million Choice Neighborhoods grant to revitalize the Paseo Gateway neighborhood.
• Another $500,000 Choice Neighborhoods planning grant for the Kansas City Westside area to support development and create more affordable housing. 
• More than $21 million for the Turkey Creek Basin Flood control, which funded widening the channel, relocating bridges and tunnel modifications.

Policymakers supporting this plan to redraw Missouri’s congressional districts purport to be focused on economic development. If that is in fact the case, then they should leave well enough alone and allow our region to continue speaking with one coherent and consistent voice. This redistricting conversation does nothing to further economic development and significantly hampers economic growth.

Kim Randolph Davis is CEO of the Heartland Black Chamber of Commerce, covering the four-state region of Missouri, Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska, and principal and CEO of consulting firm INC U LLC.

This story was originally published September 7, 2025 at 5:09 AM.