As Associated Press reported, thanks to the decision of a Missouri judge, the state can use the new congressional districts approved by the legislature last year.
Missouri's current U.S. House delegation is made up of six Republicans and two Democrats. They were elected according to boundaries drawn after the 2020 census, but last year, Gov. Mike Kehoe (R-Missouri) called a special session of the legislature to redraw the boundaries after prompting from President Donald Trump.
With Missouri's revised map, Republicans are in a position to defeat Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D) of Kansas City in a district that now includes more suburban and rural voters. Cleaver will face State Sen. Rick Brattin (R) in the newly redrawn 5th Congressional District.
Dwight Widaman is the editor of faith-based Metro Voice News in the Kansas City area. In a previous AFN article, he said that he thought the judge’s ruling was fair, despite critics saying this is denying representation from Kansas City. Instead, he believes the new boundary gives suburban and rural Missourians a more meaningful voice.
Now, he speaks on why he thinks Rick Brattin is a good Republican candidate.
“I think Rick Brattin is great. I know him. I've been associated with him through our work with Metro Voice stories. He'll be a strong candidate, especially with this expanded district. He hails from a more rural area of Kansas City, a suburban area, and so, he'll do well with conservatives that are in Kansas City,” Widaman states.
Brattin has what it takes, he thinks, to lead the district.
“He's well-spoken. He knows the issues. In addition to issues on taxes and family policy, he's a strong supporter of Israel. So, these are things that matter to people, but he'll be good. He'll be a good representative for the district should he win in November,” Widaman says.
