State Rep. Dirk Deaton, a Republican from Noel, speaks during a Jan. 30 news conference with House Speaker Jon Patterson. Deaton is sponsoring the new congressional district map being debated in a special session. (Tim Bommel/Missouri House Communications)

The Missouri House on Monday moved the new congressional district map demanded by President Donald Trump one step closer to passing.

The only drama during the more than four hours of debate was whether any Republicans would vote against the revisions intended to give the GOP safe seats in seven of Missouri’s eight congressional districts.

When the vote came to give preliminary approval to the new map, 12 of the chamber’s 107 Republicans — including House Speaker Jon Patterson of Lee’s Summit — voted against it, along with all De

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