Special election set for vacant House district

Gov. Jay Nixon announced the date of a special election to fill a House of Representatives spot that includes part of Columbia.

Voters will decide on August 8 who will represent House District 50, which covers parts of Boone, Cole and Moniteau counties. Rep. Caleb Jones (R – Columbia) vacated the seat when he accepted the deputy chief of staff position in Gov.-elect Eric Greitens’ office.

Jones was a few days from starting his fourth and final term in the House of Representatives when he moved the executive branch. He won four consecutive elections, facing a challenger only one time.

Sara Walsh, the Republican Party state committeewoman for Boone and Cooper County’s state Senate district, announced her intention to run for Jones’ seat earlier this year. It’s unclear if any Democrat has expressed interest to run for the seat.

The district covers the eastern and southern edges of Columbia, and includes the cities of Ashland and California.