Civic Café: Drawing Political Maps: Redistricting and Why It Matters

Redistricting, the action or process of dividing or organizing an area into new political districts, has been in the news across the country over the last six months, from Texas to California, and right here in Missouri. In September 2025, Governor Kehoe called a special session in which legislators voted to approve new Congressional maps. During this Civic Cafe, we will hear from campus experts to understand more about the importance of drawing electoral districts, representation, and the political nature of this process – and what this means for students and voters.

Following brief presentations from campus experts about different aspects of the redistricting conversation, we will engage in a structured dialogue over a meal. Even if you don’t know a lot about redistricting, you are welcome to join – no prior knowledge is required. Engaging in dialogue about pertinent topics like redistricting helps us deepen our understanding of the issue, hear multiple perspectives, and practice civic discourse. At this week’s Civic Café, cosponsored by DxD, we are honored to be joined by experts in redistricting from different disciplines.