Emanuel Cleaver — Democrat Candidate for U.S. House in Missouri, 2026

Emanuel Cleaver voted against the Department of Homeland Security funding bill in 2026, citing concerns over civil rights violations, lack of transparency, and the agency's creation of chaos. He also expressed opposition to proposed immigration detention centers in Kansas City, emphasizing the need for accountability and humane treatment. Cleaver supports comprehensive immigration reform to strengthen border security while upholding the tradition of welcoming hardworking immigrants. He advocates for reengineering Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to ensure reforms are met.

“While I have long supported comprehensive immigration reform that will strengthen border security in conjunction with upholding America’s tradition of welcoming hardworking immigrants, I cannot support the continuation of chaos that this agency is creating in communities nationwide. Therefore, I voted against the funding bill.” - Emanuel Cleaver, II, in a statement on his vote against the Department of Homeland Security funding bill, published on cleaver.house.gov.”

U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver voted in favor of legislation to extend Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax credits to help lower health care premiums, impacting over 46,000 Missourians in his district. He supported this bipartisan effort, stating his hope that the Senate will pass the legislation to provide relief to working-class families and ensure they can afford quality healthcare. This action aimed to address rising costs after enhanced tax credits lapsed.

““For months now, as American families plead for bipartisan solutions that will address the cost-of-living crisis, I have been working with lawmakers to extend ACA tax credits that help more than 46,000 of my constituents afford quality health care,” said Congressman Cleaver. “Thanks to every Democratic lawmaker and a handful of my Republican colleagues, we have successfully passed legislation that would extend this lifeline and provide immediate relief to working-class families across the country. It is my hope that the Senate will put partisanship aside and pass this legislation so that no family is forced to choose between keeping their health care or keeping food on the table.” (Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, cleaver.house.gov, 2026)”

Emanuel Cleaver supports clean energy and renewable resources. He co-led an amicus brief urging the U.S. District Court to vacate the EPA's termination of the Inflation Reduction Act's Solar for All program. As a member of the House Sustainable Energy & Environment Coalition, he advocates policies promoting clean energy technology, domestic manufacturing, renewable energy, and green jobs. The League of Conservation Voters gave him a 96% score in 2024.

“As a member of the House Sustainable Energy & Environment Coalition, I will continue to advocate policies that promote clean energy technology and domestic manufacturing, develop renewable energy resources, and create green collar jobs throughout the supply chain." - U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II, Press Release, February 13, 2026.”

Emanuel Cleaver opposes the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, stating it sets the nation back over 50 years and results in women having fewer rights. He believes this decision infringes on bodily autonomy and reproductive freedom, and could jeopardize other rights such as access to contraception and privacy. He is committed to defending these freedoms.

“Today's decision sets our nation back over 50 years, ensuring that for the first time in generations, women today will have fewer rights than their mothers before them. Additionally, it busts down the door to the real possibility that other rights, such as access to contraception, the right to marry whomever you love, and the right to privacy, could be struck down in the near future. It is an expansion of government power the likes of which we have not seen in decades. And it guarantees that states across the country, including Missouri, which has already enacted an abortion ban with no exception for rape or incest, will seek to further criminalize the health care decisions that should only belong to a woman and her doctor." - Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, Statement on Supreme Court Overturning Roe v. Wade.”

Emanuel Cleaver voted against the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding bill in 2026. He expressed concerns that DHS was creating chaos in communities, engaged in inhumane treatment of migrants, and undermined constitutional rights. Cleaver has also co-sponsored H.Res. 996 to impeach the DHS Secretary. He supports comprehensive immigration reform that strengthens border security while upholding the tradition of welcoming hardworking immigrants.

““While I have long supported comprehensive immigration reform that will strengthen border security in conjunction with upholding America’s tradition of welcoming hardworking immigrants, I cannot support the continuation of chaos that this agency is creating in communities nationwide. Therefore, I voted against the funding bill.” - Emanuel Cleaver, II, U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, Statement on Vote Against Department of Homeland Security Funding Bill.”

Emanuel Cleaver co-sponsored the Prison Libraries Act, which aims to authorize $60,000,000 over six years for state prisons to expand library resources and services. He states this is to provide incarcerated Americans with increased access to education and skills training to better prepare them for reintegration and reduce recidivism. Additionally, he is committed to protecting and fully funding the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and has cosigned a bill to increase its funding to meet federal commitments.

““America’s correctional system is far too often focused on punishment rather than rehabilitation. The Prison Libraries Act is an attempt to shift this dynamic, providing incarcerated Americans with increased access to education and skills training services that will better prepare them for reintegration into society. By making strategic investments in the rehabilitative components of America’s correctional facilities, we can reduce recidivism, strengthen public safety, and curtail the growing costs of our correctional system.” - Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, press release on Prison Libraries Act (January 27, 2026), from foushee.house.gov”

Representative Emanuel Cleaver supports gun safety reforms. He introduced the No Pay Until Peace Act, legislation designed to withhold lawmaker pay until action is taken to address gun violence and implement necessary reforms. Cleaver argues that if politicians only offer "thoughts and prayers" after mass shootings, their paychecks should reflect the worthlessness of such proclamations, aiming to force action on gun violence.

““When state lawmakers make accessing firearms substantially easier than accessing critical reproductive care, it’s clear that we have our priorities backward,” said Congressman Cleaver. “And if thoughts and prayers are all that politicians have to offer the American public following mass shootings that occur every single day in the United States, then their paychecks should reflect the worthlessness of such proclamations. The No Pay Until Peace Act will not solve all the problems related to gun violence in America—but I hope it will at least force some members to realize their inaction comes at a very serious cost, not just to their communities but to their pocketbooks as well.” (Congressman Cleaver, cleaver.house.gov)”