On the latest episode of Politically Speaking, St. Louis Public Radio’s Sarah Kellogg and Eric Schmid delve into how Missouri and Illinois are handling the once-a- decade process of redistricting.

The delay in census data collection, caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, has caused states across the country to prolong their processes, with some holding special sessions to tackle the responsibility.

Kellogg talks to St. Louis Public Radio’s Jason Rosenbaum on Missouri not having a special session on redistricting, pushing the bulk of the process into the 2022 general legislative session.

Schmid interviews NPR Illinois’ Hannah Meisel on Illinois Democrats’ decision to publish the first version of their state redistricting map without the 2020 census data.

Here’s what was discussed in the show:

• Missouri Gov. Mike Parson’s decision to not hold a special legislative session, lawmakers’ reactions and who may take advantage of tackling congressional redistricting during the general session.

• Three congressional districts that could see major changes and a decades-long alliance between Black Democrats and Republicans over Missouri’s 1st Congressional District.

• How Illinois Democrats’ decision to create their first version of a state legislative redistricting map using non-census data has now led to multiple lawsuits.

• The role Illinois plays in maintaining a Democratic majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Follow Sarah Kellogg on Twitter: @sarahkkellogg

Follow Eric Schmid on Twitter: @EricDSchmid