On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, state Rep. Donna Baringer returns to talk with St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum about congressional and state legislative redistricting — and some election-related items that could be up for discussion in 2022.
Baringer is a St. Louis Democrat who represents the 82nd District, which takes in a number of southwestern wards of the city.
Here’s what Baringer talked about on the show:
- The impact of Gov. Mike Parson’s decision not to call a special session for congressional redistricting. Baringer agrees with some Republicans that such a move makes it easier for people to use other legislation as leverage to change the final map.
- The different ways the 1st Congressional District could expand. That district, which is currently represented by Democratic Congresswoman Cori Bush, will need to grow in area because of population loss.
- Whether a majority of lawmakers, when considering election legislation next year, would be amenable to creating a period of time when voters could cast a ballot early in person without an excuse.
- Getting rid of a Missouri law that would allow elections officials to reject an absentee ballot that’s cast before someone dies. “If you get in a car accident the next day, then your vote is not supposed to count,” she said. “Well you didn’t know you were going to die. But you certainly knew that you were going to vote and who you were going to vote for.”
Baringer’s district includes the neighborhoods of South Hampton, Princeton Heights, St. Louis Hills, Villanova and parts of Lindenwood Park, Northampton, Bevo Mill and Boulevard Heights.
Baringer has a master’s degree in corporate communication from Lindenwood University and a bachelor’s degree in business management from Maryville University. Before being elected to the Statehouse in 2016, she served on the St. Louis Board of Aldermen for 14 years.
Follow Jason Rosenbaum on Twitter: @jrosenbaum
Follow Donna Baringer on Twitter: @STLDonnaB
