Missouri — 5th District

D Democratic Emanuel Cleaver

Supports targeted investments and small businesses

Cleaver focuses on job creation, supporting small businesses as economic engines, and lowering prescription drug costs to ease household budgets. He has secured community project funds to foster local economic development in Missouri's 5th District.

• Delivered $850,000 in federal funding for Grandview Station to support local vendors and small businesses.
• Advocates for lowering prescription drug costs and extending ACA tax credits to protect family finances.

“Remaining focused on job creation, supporting small businesses, and making investments in our future economy are core values of Congressman Cleaver’s work in Congress.”

R Republican Rick Brattin

Opposes tax hikes and federal spending

Brattin supports President Trump's economic agenda, advocating for tax cuts, deregulation, and boosting domestic energy production to combat inflation. In the Missouri legislature, he fought property tax increases and opposed government tax hikes.

• Supports cutting taxes, slashing federal regulations, and unleashing domestic energy production.
• Record of opposing tax hikes in Missouri and supporting legislative limits on local property taxes.

“With a proven record of opposing tax hikes in the Missouri legislature and fighting for legislation to place real limits on property taxes, he’ll fight in Congress against reckless spending that drives up our national debt and fuels inflation, working to put more money back in the pockets of hardworking Missourians.”

D Democratic Emanuel Cleaver

Supports accountability and balanced oversight

Cleaver advocates for oversight and accountability regarding federal immigration enforcement agencies while raising concerns about expanding large detention facilities. He voted against conservative border enforcement measures like the Laken Riley Act and DUI deportation legislation.

• Expressed concerns over proposed large DHS detention facilities in Kansas City regarding transparency and community impact.
• Voted Nay on the Laken Riley Act and the Protect Our Communities from DUIs Act of 2025.

“In a recent interview, Congressman Cleaver told local media that the Department of Homeland Security’s plan to expand large detention facilities — including one in Kansas City — raises serious questions about community impact and transparency”

R Republican Rick Brattin

Supports strict border enforcement and deportation

Brattin aligns with President Trump's border agenda, calling for full funding for ICE, constructing a border wall, and deporting criminal illegal immigrants. In the state legislature, he sponsored penalties for businesses hiring undocumented workers and worked to ban sanctuary cities.

• Backs building the border wall, fully funding ICE, and deporting criminal illegal immigrants.
• Sponsored Missouri legislation to penalize employers hiring undocumented workers and ban sanctuary cities.

“In Congress, he’ll back President Trump’s efforts to build the wall, fully fund ICE, deport criminal illegal aliens, and end the policies that have encouraged the flood of illegal immigration into our communities.”

D Democratic Emanuel Cleaver

Supports legal abortion and reproductive rights

Cleaver opposes the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade and believes reproductive decisions should remain between women and their healthcare providers. He has earned endorsements from major reproductive rights advocacy groups.

• Endorsed by Planned Parenthood Action Fund.
• Opposes federal abortion bans and supports healthcare autonomy for women.

“Congressman Cleaver disagrees with the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and believes that decision undermines women’s right to make their own health care decisions.”

R Republican Rick Brattin

Opposes abortion and Planned Parenthood

Brattin holds a 100% pro-life record and vows to defund Planned Parenthood at the federal level. In Missouri, he voted to extend abortion waiting periods from 24 to 72 hours and supported parental notification rules.

• Endorsed by Missouri Right to Life PAC in every legislative election.
• Voted to extend state abortion waiting periods to 72 hours and require parental notification for minors.
• Committed to defunding Planned Parenthood in Congress.

“In Congress, he’ll fight hard to defund Planned Parenthood and protect our most vulnerable citizens, the unborn.”

D Democratic Emanuel Cleaver

Supports common-sense gun safety laws

Cleaver advocates for bipartisan gun safety legislation that protects communities while respecting responsible gun ownership. He also supports providing adequate funding and training for local police departments to combat violent crime.

• Supports common-sense gun safety laws and expanded resources for community safety.
• Secured federal funding for public safety and upgrades for the Kansas City Police Department.

“Congressman Cleaver supports bipartisan, common-sense gun safety legislation, keeping our children and neighborhoods safe while respecting the responsible ownership of guns.”

R Republican Rick Brattin

Opposes restrictions on gun ownership

Brattin is an active NRA member with a record of expanding firearm rights in Missouri. He helped craft state constitutional protections for gun rights, backed the Second Amendment Preservation Act, and filed bills protecting firearm manufacturers from government discrimination.

• Voted for Missouri's Second Amendment Preservation Act (SAPA).
• Sponsored legislation preventing government entities from contracting with companies discriminating against gun manufacturers.

“In Congress, he’ll bring that same fight to the national level and stand firm against any attempt to infringe on our God-given right to keep and bear arms.”

D Democratic Emanuel Cleaver

Supports public education and workforce training

Cleaver prioritizes funding for public education, higher education affordability, and workforce development programs. He has received endorsements from national education organizations and launched congressional oversight into veterinary school workloads.

• Endorsed by the National Education Association (NEA).
• Launched a congressional inquiry into workload and well-being safeguards at U.S. veterinary schools.

“He wants to ensure students have the skills and education needed for thevjobs of today and of the future.”

R Republican Rick Brattin

Opposes woke agenda and supports parental rights

Serving as Chairman of the Missouri Senate Education Committee, Brattin advocates eliminating woke and DEI programs in schools and federal agencies. He supports parental rights in education and has sponsored legislation banning explicit books in school libraries.

• Sponsored state legislation to protect parental rights and remove explicit materials from school libraries.
• Pledges to defund ideological programs and remove political agendas from federal education funding.

“Rick will fight to ensure our schools focus on teaching children how to think, not indoctrinating them with a radical political agenda.”

D Democratic Emanuel Cleaver

Supports expanded veteran care and medical research

Cleaver advocates for improving healthcare and benefits for veterans. He also successfully secured $5 million in defense funding for alpha-gal syndrome research through a bipartisan NDAA amendment.

• Secured $5 million for alpha-gal syndrome research in the FY27 National Defense Authorization Act.
• Advocates for expanding healthcare services and earned benefits for military veterans.

“He supports improving health care for veterans and ensuring that they receive the benefits they have earned protecting our country.”

R Republican Rick Brattin

Supports veteran affairs and military readiness

Brattin, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, served on Missouri's Seniors, Families, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee and emphasizes support for service members and national security.

• Marine Corps veteran who served on the Missouri Senate Seniors, Families, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee.

“I spent six years as a United States Marine, and I’ve spent years in the Missouri Senate fighting for Missouri families.”

D Democratic Emanuel Cleaver

Supports expanding affordable housing access

Cleaver has made housing reform a centerpiece of his legislative career, serving as a lead architect of the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act. He has also secured federal community project funding for housing improvements and local infrastructure across Missouri's 5th District.

• Co-authored the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act to expand national housing supply and homeownership access.
• Secured over $13 million in federal community project funding for public housing upgrades and neighborhood revitalization.

“Growing up in public housing inspired Congressman Cleaver to make accessible, affordable housing for all a life-long crusade.”

“A lead architect of the legislation, Cleaver emphasized that the bill was crafted through bipartisan cooperation to expand housing supply, improve affordability and help more Americans achieve homeownership.”

D Democratic Emanuel Cleaver

Supports strengthening ACA, Medicare, and Medicaid

Cleaver actively defends the Affordable Care Act, supporting legislation to restore premium tax credits and lower prescription drug prices. He advocates for Medicaid expansion and protecting the long-term solvency of Social Security and Medicare.

• Co-sponsored House legislation to restore ACA premium tax credits following regional rate hikes.
• Supports Medicaid expansion and long-term solvency protections for Social Security and Medicare.

“He has been an ardent supporter and defender of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which has helped bring coverage to millions of Americans.”

“He has and will continue to fight for the investments needed to maintain these programs for our seniors.”

R Republican Rick Brattin

Supports restricting Chinese land ownership and economic influence

Brattin views China as a key economic and national security threat. In the Missouri Senate, he filed legislation banning foreign land ownership near defense sites and voted against subsidizing a Chinese air cargo hub.

• Filed Missouri legislation to ban foreign land ownership near military installations and defense manufacturing sites.
• Voted against state subsidies for a Chinese air cargo hub at St. Louis airport.

“In Congress, he’ll hold China accountable and work to reduce our dependence on Chinese goods.”

D Democratic Emanuel Cleaver

Supports federal infrastructure and transit investments

Cleaver emphasizes securing federal infrastructure funds for Missouri's 5th District. His efforts have delivered billions in funding for highways, bridges, transit, water projects, and local revitalization.

• Secured over $13 million in federal funds for transit, public safety, and neighborhood projects in Missouri's 5th District.

“His efforts have secured billions of dollars investment for our community and State, including the repair and new construction of highways, roads, bridges, transit, and water projects.”

D Democratic Emanuel Cleaver

Opposes partisan gerrymandering and restrictive voter laws

Cleaver has strongly opposed Missouri's 2025 congressional redistricting plan, arguing that redrawing district boundaries dilutes fair representation for Kansas City voters. He also voted against the SAVE Act in Congress.

• Voted Nay on the SAVE Act (H.R. 22) requiring documentary proof of citizenship for voter registration.
• Publicly criticized state redistricting efforts as gerrymandering intended to undermine urban voter representation.

“In national broadcast coverage, Congressman Cleaver discusses the unprecedented efforts by Missouri lawmakers to redraw congressional maps — a move he says threatens fair representation and could undermine voter influence in Kansas City.”

D Democratic Emanuel Cleaver

Supports collective bargaining and federal workers

Cleaver is a strong supporter of organized labor and federal employees, earning an endorsement from the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE). He intervened in the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant strike, urging management to bargain in good faith.

• Endorsed by AFGE with a 100% legislative voting score on union priorities.
• Urged Olin Winchester management to negotiate in good faith with over 1,300 striking union workers at Lake City Army Ammunition Plant.

“In a letter to company leadership, they emphasized that collective bargaining is a cornerstone of U.S. labor law and warned that prolonged delays could harm both working families and the nation’s defense supply chain.”