On Tuesday, August 2, Missouri held its primary election with the winners advancing to the November General Election. Missouri elections are decided by the candidate receiving the most votes of those running and does not provide for a run-off election like many other states.
U.S. Senate Races
Current Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt of Kirkwood won the crowded Republican primary for the U.S. Senate seat to replace outgoing Senator Roy Blunt (R). With an estimated 45.7 percent of the votes, Schmitt outpaced U.S. Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler, former Gov. Eric Greitens of Chesterfield, and 18 other GOP candidates. This race was very expensive and drew extensive funding from out-of-state groups as most money was spent from 501c4 organizations of which their donors were not disclosed.
Trudy Busch Valentine of Clayton defeated Lucas Kunce of Independence, and nine others to win the Democrat nomination for U.S. Senate. Valentine collected 43.2 percent of the primary’s votes. Valentine is an heir to the August Busch family and is likely to have significant funding for her upcoming General Election.
Estimated vote totals in the U.S. Senate races were 654,474 in the Republican primary and 367,420 in the Democratic primary.
John Wood, an attorney who is running as an Independent candidate in the U.S. Senate race, is expected to be on the ballot November 8 after gathering the necessary 10,000 petition signatures. Wood has received the endorsement and financial support from former U.S. Senator Jack Danforth (R). Wood recently served for the January 6th Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives for Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wy).
In races throughout the state, candidates from the Libertarian, Constitution, and other parties will be on the November ballot, also.
U.S. Congressional Races
In the 4th Congressional District, seven Republicans and one Democrat competed. Mark Alford of Raymore won the Republican primary with 35.0 percent of the votes, defeating State Sen. Rick Brattin of Harrisonville (21.4 percent) and five other candidates. Jack Truman of Lamar, the lone Democrat in the primary, will face Alford on November 8.
In the 7th Congressional District race, State Sen. Eric Burlison of Battlefield won the Republican primary with 38.2 percent of the votes. Burlison defeated former State Sen. Jay Wasson of Nixa (22.5 percent), State Sen. Mike Moon of Republic (17.9 percent), and five others. Kristen Radaker-Sheafer of Joplin (63.3 percent) defeated two opponents in the Democratic primary.
State Rep. Trish Gunby of Ballwin won the Democratic primary in the 2nd Congressional District. In November, Gunby will face-off against current Congresswoman Ann Wagner (R) of Ballwin.
State Auditor
The race for State Auditor to replace Nicole Galloway (D) boiled down to a battle between two Republicans, current State Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick of Shell Knob and State Rep. David Gregory of St. Louis. Fitzpatrick won the primary with 64.7 percent of the votes. An estimated 584,727 voters cast ballots in the Republican primary for State Auditor. One Democrat and one Libertarian from Florissant and St. Louis, respectively, are also running for State Auditor in November.
State Senate Races
Seventeen of the 34 State Senate seats were up for grabs along with all 163 State House of Representatives seats.
Six current State Senators running for re-election were being challenged by candidates from their own party. One incumbent Senator lost on Tuesday. The incumbent Senators’ races include:
Sen. Bill White (R-District 32) of Joplin, challenged by Republican Jill Carter of Granby. White was defeated as Carter received 52.3 percent of the vote.
Sen. Mike Bernskoetter (R-District 6) of Jefferson City, challenged by Republican Scott Riedel of Camdenton. Bernskoetter won with 55.5 percent.
Sen. Mike Cierpiot (R-District 8) of Lee’s Summit, challenged by Republicans Joe Nicola of Grain Valley and Rachi Aguirre of Lee’s Summit. Cierpiot won with 50.0 percent.
Sen. Justin Brown (R-District 16) of Rolla, challenged by State Rep. Suzie Pollock (R) of Lebanon. Brown won with 50.9 percent.
Sen. Sandy Crawford (R-District 28) of Buffalo, challenged by Republicans Bill Yarberry of Fair Play and Janet Arnold of Bolivar. Crawford breezed to victory with 63.7 percent.
Sen. Lincoln Hough (R-District 30) of Springfield, challenged by Republican Angela Romine of Springfield. Hough won with 56.6 percent.
Several current members of the House of Representatives are running for the Missouri Senate. They include:
Rep. Nick Schroer and Rep. John Wiemann, both of O’Fallon, facing off as Republicans in Senate District 2 (Sen. Bob Onder retiring). Schroer won with 57.6 percent.
Rep. Travis Fitzwater of Fulton, former Rep. Bryan Spencer of Wentzville, and Rep. Jeff Porter of Montgomery City, facing off with other Republicans Mike Carter of Wentzville and Joshua Price of Mexico in Senate District 10 (Sen. Jeannie Riddle retiring). Fitzwater came out on top with 31.9 percent.
Rep. Rusty Black of Chillicothe, Rep. J. Eggleston of Maysville, and Delus Johnson of Country Club near St. Joseph, all Republicans in Senate District 12 (Sen. Dan Hegeman retiring). Black won with 64.8 percent.
Rep. Curtis Trent of Springfield facing off with Brian Gelner of Springfield, Republicans in Senate District 20 (Sen. Eric Burlison winning Congressional seat). Trent was the winner with 58.4 percent.
Rep. Mary Elizabeth Coleman of Arnold, former Rep. Jeff Roorda, Rep. Dan Shaul of Imperial, and Rep. Shane Roden of Cedar Hill on the Republican ballot for Senate District 22 (Sen. Paul Wieland retiring). Coleman won with 34.9 percent.
Rep. Tracy McCreery (D) of St. Louis ran unopposed for Senate District 24 (Sen. Jill Schupp retiring). McCreery will face Republican and Libertarian challengers in November.
Rep. Nate Tate (R) of St. Clair finished third in a five-candidate race for Senate District 26 (Sen. Dave Schatz seeking U.S. Senate seat). Ben Brown won with 39.0 percent.
State House of Representatives Races
Of the 163 members of the Missouri House of Representatives, 123 incumbents are running for re-election this year.
With some boundaries being changed because of the new 2022 redistricting map, 27 current House members are running in districts numbered differently than during the past decade.
In one case, two current House members were “redistricted” into the same district and competed against each other in the primary. They are Rep. Michael Person of Ferguson and Rep. Raychel Proudie of Ferguson, both Democrats. Rep. Proudie won the primary with 62.0 percent of the vote. Rep. Person currently serves District 74. However, the pair competed in District 73, Rep. Proudie’s current district.
Other House incumbents who lost their primary election races include Rep. Randy Railsback (R) of Hamilton, Rep. Annette Turnbaugh (D) of Grandview, Rep. Wiley Price (D) of St. Louis, Rep. Neil Smith (D) of St. Louis, and Rep. John Simmons (R) of Washington.
General Assembly’s Veto Session in September
The annual Veto Session for the Missouri General Assembly is set for mid-September. Governor Parson has been touring the state, talking with legislators about his proposed tax package that could be the topic of a Special Session he may call. His plan includes permanent tax relief for all Missouri taxpayers and extending sunsets on key agricultural tax credits. But there is no word of a decision yet on calling the Special Session.
Governor Parson may need to fill two more statewide offices
Following last night’s primary election, the Attorney General and the State Treasurer were both elected as their party nominees for new offices. If Attorney General Eric Schmitt (R) and State Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick (R) are successful in November, their offices will be vacant. Upon the vacancy, Governor Mike Parson (R) will need to fill their offices immediately by appointment. Governor Parson has been forced to fill numerous offices during his tenure as Governor; those offices include the Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, and State Treasurer. Parson initially appointed Schmitt and Fitzpatrick in 2018, and they were both duly elected in 2020.
