Fifth Congressional District candidate interview: Taylor Burks
Six republicans are competing in the August primary for the Fifth Congressional District seat. Taylor Burks, Rick Brattin, Brett Hueffmeier, Micah Beebe, Berton Knox and Brad Patty are all challenging incumbent Democrat Emanuel Cleaver, who has held the seat since 2005.
Congressional districts were redrawn in 2025 during a special session aimed at giving Republicans an advantage in the U.S. House. The once-KC-centric district now stretches from the Kansas border to Osage County. It includes much of Boone County, and all of Cole County.
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Erika McGuire: Okay. Let's get started. So, what made you want to run for the Fifth Congressional District?
Taylor Burks: Yeah, I got back from my fourth deployment a few months ago. Still serving the Navy Reserves for 19 years. Came home with this new congressional map. I felt that we needed a strong voice from Mid-Missouri. If we're going to add about half of the district population from Mid-Missouri into the Fifth Congressional District, we need a candidate who can represent the rural and urban parts of Missouri's Fifth. So that was the big motivator for me to get into this campaign.
McGuire: What do you see as the biggest issue facing voters in the Fifth District right now?
Burks: Affordability is a concern. We continue to see inflation, rising gas prices. I think long-term Republican policies are designed to make things more affordable. That's what President Trump campaigned on, and we strive to do with our global economic policies. More specific in this district, though, we're a very ag-centered district now, going from Kansas City and a lot of the industry in Kansas City to Mid-Missouri, and so having a strong voice on agriculture.
And then the last piece is Whiteman Air Force Base is in this district. So Missouri is unique in our role for national security for our country's armed services or armed forces, and being a military member myself, that's the representation that I would bring to this district.
McGuire: This kind of, this question kind of goes back to what you just said, but how would you address the cost of living, including the housing and the groceries and the gas prices?
Burks: One thing that I'm a proponent of is the recent housing bill that was passed through Congress, and that's an opportunity for first-time home buyers have access to more units. Some of the rules that came through there are a way to help help ease ease the market stress that we see in the housing world.
The other piece is, despite the conflict in Iran, we are seeing more energy production in this country. So, Republican energy policies are a great way for us to have domestic energy production that isn't stressed by global conflict, and then long-term global peace and security that Republicans and President Trump are bringing to this country. Those are stability and avoiding chaos is really how you ease markets and provide prosperity and affordability for everybody.
McGuire: If elected, what would be your plan to address immigration on the federal level?
Burks: Securing the border is the first step that we have to take, and deporting people who come here illegally, who break our rules, that's been foundational for the president and Republican policies. Beyond that, we do have to have reasonable immigration policy so that people can come here legally. As a business owner and a former leader for a private company here in Mid-Missouri that hired guest workers, we hired them legally, but that process has to be predictable, vetted, and secure, and so I think that future reforms to legal seasonal guest workers is a great way for us to provide that stability in labor markets as well.
McGuire: If you are elected, what would be your top priority?
Burks: All of these things that we've talked about are important. There are so many things going on in the world. It's tough to say, 'Hey, this is the most important thing.' As a former county clerk, I saved about half a million dollars in my office when I served Boone County. As a Republican coming into office with a track record of fiscal conservatism, that is important to save taxpayer dollars.
The second piece is national security. We haven't had a veteran in Congress from Missouri in almost 20 years, and so having the voice to represent Whiteman Air Force Base and be able to speak to the national security challenges that the country faces, and then take care of veterans who do come home, that's a huge priority.
McGuire: Is there anything that you want to touch base on that I didn't ask that you would like voters to know?
Burks: Yeah, I think we covered the highlights. The reality is that this new map came about uniquely. This isn't something common for Missouri, but Missouri hasn't had a member of Congress from the middle part of the state since Blaine Luetkemeyer retired. So I'm proud to have Blaine's endorsement. I'm proud to have Vicky Hartzler's endorsement. That goes to having a rural Mid-Missourian in Congress who can represent this new district, and that's what my campaign is centered on.
