Baker loses after long state Senate campaign

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Judy Baker lost the state senate race to Sen. Caleb Rowden Tuesday night.

Baker spoke at her watch party after the announcement of the winner, in front of other democratic candidates and members of her campaign.

"We did all that we could do and I can't tell you what a privilege it has been to work with every one of you," she said. "We are proud of our campaign."

Earlier today Baker waited with her fellow Democrats to hear whether her bid to defeat incumbent state Sen. Caleb Rowden is successful.

The Boone County Democrats gathered at their headquarters in Columbia on Tuesday night as votes were tallied and reported.

The campaign between Baker and Rowden, the majority leader in Missouri's Republican-dominated Senate, to represent Boone and Cooper counties in the 19th Senate District has at times turned personal.

Baker is a former state House member who has also run unsuccessfully for Congress and state treasurer. Rowden was elected to the state Senate in 2016 after serving in the House.

Before the results Baker said she is relieved a year of hard work is coming to an end.

"I am feeling like I am waiting to exhale, I am excited and humbled to think I might get a chance to represent and govern," she said.

Lyra Noce, the local Democratic Party chair, said this is a chance to watch the results and celebrate with the candidates all the hard work they have done.

"It will be a socially distant event, and hopefully we will have some local results fairly early after the polls close," she said.

Baker said it was unexpected to not win, and will hold Sen. Rowden accountable in the future.