Are Republicans in Missouri and Kansas at risk of losing their supermajorities this year?
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
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From KCUR, this is up to date with Steve Kraske. I'm senior producer Zach Wilson.
What is a legislative supermajority and why does it matter?
2026 may turn out to be a wave election for the Democrats, and new analysis from Ballotpedia suggests that legislative supermajorities in both Missouri and Kansas may be at risk. But is that actually likely? And what would the consequences look like for taxpayers in both states if that turns out to be the case? Today, Steve is joined by Dr. Alexandra Middlewood, a Wichita State University associated. Associate Professor of Political Science, along with University of Missouri Political Science Professor Peverell Squire, to discuss this topic.
Well Doctor Middlewood, let's start with the basics. What is a legislative supermajority and why is it such a big deal?
The legislative supermajority is when one party holds sixty-six percent or two-thirds of the seats um in a state legislature. Typically when we say this, we're talking about the House, um, but there are also those that have supermajorities in the Senate as well. And that's really essential for overriding governors' vetoes. So if a legislature has a supermajority, if their governor perhaps is a different political party and vetoes legislation, then the legislature can override that veto by a two-thirds majority vote in both the House and the Senate.
So it gives the legislature extraordinary power even over a governor in some circumstances, you're saying.
Yes, absolutely. Um and here in Kansas we've seen the legislature use that supermajority status several times over the last couple of years to override vetoes that Governor Kelly has issued.
F Professor Squire, for listeners again who may not be familiar with how all this works, what practical difference is there between a party holding a simple majority versus a supermajority?
Well, it depends in part on something uh Professor Winterwood uh noted in Kansas, where they have a democratic governor uh and supermajority Republican state legislature, there you see conflict. Uh here in Missouri with uh the complete uh trifecta control by the Republicans of both the General Assembly and and the governorship. Uh you see a little less of that. Certainly there's not always agreement between the legislative houses and and the uh and the governorship. Uh but here you don't see the uh the legislature really using uh their ability to override vetoes when uh the governor uh has issued them. So here in Missouri right now the the the question is really more a a matter of uh democratic morale uh in terms of denting the uh supermajority than it is uh really shifting anything significantly in terms of power in Jefferson City.
You know, Doctor Middlewood, we're gonna be talking about the possibility that Democrats may win enough seats this year to end these Republican supermajorities in both states. But it seems like, you know, this conversation comes up every two years and Republicans continue to prevail. I mean, if GOP leaders out there are listening to this conversation right now, they're probably shaking their heads and saying, Here we go again. You know, they'll they'll still win. They they're pretty confident of that. Does that sound right to you?
It does. Uh this is a tactic that the Democratic Party talks about every two years. Um, they are targeting seats um every two years as well. So it's not just talk. They are putting some effort into it.
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Chapters
8 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:00–0:53
2
What is a legislative supermajority and why does it matter?
0:53–4:50
3
How could the Missouri Republican supermajority be threatened in 2026?
4:50–6:46
4
What factors make the Kansas supermajority vulnerable this election cycle?
6:46–12:12
5
How are demographic shifts in Johnson County reshaping state politics?
12:12–14:16
6
What impact could upcoming Kansas constitutional amendments have on elections?
14:16–16:55
7
How might the Kansas gubernatorial race influence the supermajority battle?
16:55–18:48
8
What are the potential consequences of Missouri’s proposed income‑tax repeal amendment?
18:48–24:16
Speakers
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