Emanuel Cleaver
U.S. House · MO-5 · Democrats · since 2025
alsoCandidate for U.S. House · MO-5
Biography
Overview
Emanuel Cleaver II is a Democrat serving as U.S. Representative for Missouri's 5th congressional district since 2005. He is a United Methodist pastor who previously served as Kansas City's first African American mayor from 1991 to 1999 and on the Kansas City Council from 1979 to 1991. As of 2025, he is in his 11th term in Congress and previously chaired the Congressional Black Caucus from 2011 to 2013.
Career
Cleaver has voted with the Democratic Party 95.8% of the time during his tenure and achieved 100% alignment with President Joe Biden's positions as of 2022. He is noted for bringing federal funding to Kansas City through earmarks. He voted for both articles of impeachment against President Trump in 2019, making him one of only two Missouri House members to do so. He has been recognized as a moral leader in his community.
Prior political experience
Cleaver first entered Congress in 2005 after winning the Democratic primary in 2004 with 60% of the vote against Jamie Metzl. The general election results from 2016 show he won his 5th congressional district seat with 190,766 votes (58.8%). Additional 2016 election results for other races show his earlier victories with margins ranging from 36.5% to 52.9%.
Biographical material adapted from the Wikipedia article (retrieved April 29, 2026), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Ideology
Liberal–Conservative (DW-NOMINATE dim 1)
Secondary axis (DW-NOMINATE dim 2)(?)
Campaigns targeting Emanuel Cleaver
No active campaigns target Emanuel Cleaver right now.
Start a campaign targeting Emanuel CleaverOfficeholding history
| Term | Seat | Term dates | Termination | Predecessor | Successor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11th | U.S. House MO-5 | 2025–present | In progress | Emanuel Cleaver | — |
| 10th | U.S. House MO-5 | 2023–2025 | Term ended | Emanuel Cleaver | Emanuel Cleaver |
| 9th | U.S. House MO-5 | 2021–2023 | Term ended | Emanuel Cleaver | Emanuel Cleaver |
| 8th | U.S. House MO-5 | 2019–2021 | Term ended | Emanuel Cleaver | Emanuel Cleaver |
| 7th | U.S. House MO-5 | 2017–2019 | Term ended | Emanuel Cleaver | Emanuel Cleaver |
| 6th | U.S. House MO-5 | 2015–2017 | Term ended | Emanuel Cleaver | Emanuel Cleaver |
| 5th | U.S. House MO-5 | 2013–2015 | Term ended | Emanuel Cleaver | Emanuel Cleaver |
| 4th | U.S. House MO-5 | 2011–2013 | Term ended | Emanuel Cleaver | Emanuel Cleaver |
| 3rd | U.S. House MO-5 | 2009–2011 | Term ended | Emanuel Cleaver | Emanuel Cleaver |
| 2nd | U.S. House MO-5 | 2007–2009 | Term ended | Emanuel Cleaver | Emanuel Cleaver |
| 1st | U.S. House MO-5 | 2005–2007 | Term ended | — | Emanuel Cleaver |
Committee assignments
- Housing and InsuranceHouseRanking Member· 2025–present
- House· 2025–present
- Capital MarketsHouse· 2025–present
Current term legislation
Bills sponsored this term10
- H.R. 8402
To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to increase civics education programs, and for other purposes.
Apr 21, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 8325
Rehabilitation Through Reading Act of 2026
Apr 16, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 8296
Preparing Superfund for Climate Change Act of 2026
Apr 15, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 8002
To require coverage of incarcerated workers under the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, and for other purposes.
Mar 19, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 7309
Reentry Resource Guide Act of 2026
Feb 2, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 7247
Prison Libraries Act of 2026
Jan 27, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 6737
SPUR Housing Act
Dec 16, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 6621
Workforce of the Future Act of 2025
Dec 11, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 5938
Innovation Fund Act
Nov 7, 2025IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 4556
Protect Our TEETH Act
Jul 21, 2025IN_COMMITTEE
Bills cosponsored this term10
- H.R. 8397
To protect Moms and babies against climate change, and for other purposes.
Apr 21, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 8359
To change the address of the postal facility designated in honor of Specialist Jeffrey L. White, Jr.
Apr 16, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 8276
Quindaro Townsite National Historic Landmark Act
Apr 14, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 8254
Water Access and Affordability Act
Apr 13, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 8055
Extending WIC for New Moms Act
Mar 24, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 7973
Momnibus Act
Mar 18, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 7977
To provide relief from high energy bills, and for other purposes.
Mar 18, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 7917
Fair Wages for Home Care Workers Act
Mar 12, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 7802
DISCLOSE Act of 2026
Mar 4, 2026IN_COMMITTEE - H.R. 7746
To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 8390 North Broadway in St. Louis, Missouri, as the "Chuck Stone Post Office".
Mar 2, 2026IN_COMMITTEE
Elections
| Year | Seat | Result | Vote share | Field |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | U.S. House MO-5 | Won | 58.83% |
|