IN THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE OF JACKSON COUNTY, MISSOURI
Title
A RESOLUTION condemning Congressional redistricting.
Intro
RESOLUTION NO. 22277, May 18, 2026
INTRODUCED BY Manuel Abarca IV, County Legislator
Body
WHEREAS, for years, leaders within the Republican Party have loudly proclaimed that government closest to the people governs best, repeatedly demanding that the federal government stay out of local affairs, respect states’ rights, and defer to the will of local communities; and,
WHEREAS, those same voices now stand silent, or worse, actively participate, while Congressional redistricting is manipulated through political pressure, backroom dealing, and partisan interference designed to override the will of Missouri voters for the benefit of political insiders; and,
WHEREAS, the hypocrisy is impossible to ignore: elected officials who campaign on “local control” and “government overreach” now appear perfectly comfortable with centralized political interference when it serves their partisan ambitions; and,
WHEREAS, the people of Missouri are being asked to accept a redistricting process driven not by fairness, transparency, or constitutional principle, but by political operatives attempting to engineer outcomes before a single voter casts a ballot; and,
WHEREAS, this conduct represents a blatant abuse of governmental authority and an unacceptable overreach by those who claim to champion limited government while actively undermining representative democracy behind closed doors; and,
WHEREAS, the citizens of Missouri deserve a Congressional redistricting process that is transparent, lawful, stable, and free from manipulation by party bosses, political consultants, or special interests seeking to rig representation for partisan gain; and,
WHEREAS, Missourians are tired of watching powerful political figures treat democracy like a chessboard while ordinary citizens are expected to quietly accept decisions made without transparency, accountability, or meaningful public input; and,
WHEREAS, true leadership requires the courage to speak honestly and reject political misconduct even when it is politically inconvenient; and,
WHEREAS, Republican leaders across Missouri now face a defining test of integrity: whether they will defend the principles of local control, limited government, and fair representation that they publicly champion, or remain silent while partisan actors manipulate the democratic process for political gain; and,
WHEREAS, the Missouri Secretary of State, Denny Hoskins, has an obligation and duty to uphold election laws, ensure transparency, provide clear public guidance, and defend the integrity of Missouri’s democratic institutions without political favoritism or calculated silence; and,
WHEREAS, silence or inaction from the State’s chief elections officer during moments of political chaos and institutional distrust only further damages public confidence and empowers those seeking to manipulate the system for partisan advantage; now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED that the Jackson County Legislature strongly condemns the chaotic, politically manipulative, and fundamentally hypocritical Congressional redistricting efforts currently being forced upon the people of Missouri; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Jackson County Legislature rejects the blatant contradiction of elected officials who publicly denounce federal interference and government overreach while simultaneously supporting partisan political interference when it benefits their own political power; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Jackson County Legislature calls upon Republican elected officials, party leaders, and public officeholders throughout Missouri to show courage, stand up against this deeply flawed redistricting effort, and publicly acknowledge that manipulating Congressional districts for partisan advantage is wrong regardless of which political party benefits; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Jackson County Legislature urges those leaders to place democratic principles, transparency, and the will of Missouri voters above party loyalty, political pressure, or fear of retaliation from party insiders and political operatives; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Jackson County Legislature condemns any attempt by political insiders, party operatives, or outside influences to override the will of Missouri communities through secrecy, intimidation, coercion, or procedural manipulation; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Jackson County Legislature calls upon Secretary of State Denny Hoskins to immediately fulfill the responsibilities of his office by ensuring complete transparency, adherence to constitutional and statutory requirements, and full public accountability throughout any Congressional redistricting process; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Jackson County Legislature reaffirms that representative government belongs to the people of Missouri, not political machines, party strategists, or special interests attempting to redraw districts for their own personal and partisan benefit; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Office of the Missouri Secretary of State, the Missouri Congressional delegation, the Missouri General Assembly, and all other appropriate public officials so that the people of Missouri may know exactly who stood for transparency, accountability, and democracy and who stood by cowardly and complicit.
Enacted and Approved
Effective Date: This Resolution shall be effective immediately upon its passage by a majority of the Legislature.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_______________________________
County Counselor
Certificate of Passage
I hereby certify that the attached resolution, Resolution No. 22277 of May 18, 2026, was duly passed on June 1, 2026 by the Jackson County Legislature. The votes thereon were as follows:
Yeas ______5_________ Nays _____1________
Abstaining ____0_______ Absent ____2________
Excused ____1_______
_________________ _________________________________
Date Mary Jo Spino, Clerk of Legislature