Congressional candidates file for primary elections as legal questions remain about new ‘Missouri First’ map
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Hundreds of candidates lined the third floor of the James C. Kirkpatrick State Information Center as candidate filing for the August primary elections opened Tuesday morning in Jefferson City.
All candidates are required to file in person with the Secretary of State's Office, unless they are on active duty or cannot appear due to physical disabilities.
Offices that file with the secretary of state include eight U.S. representatives, the state auditor, 17 Senators, 163 state representatives and various circuit court judges.
Candidate filing comes as a disputed new congressional map, named the "Missouri First" map, is in effect, according to the Secretary of State's Office.
"I've been very clear from the beginning that people are filing under the new Missouri First map," Secretary of State Denny Hoskins said.
The Republican-led General Assembly approved the new map, which redraws the reliably Democratic Fifth House District, amid a White House push for red states to add seats to the Republican majority. Some Democratic states followed with their own mid-decade maps.
Hoskins adds that while the new congressional map is tied up in several legal battles, he expects the cases to continue moving through the legal system.
"When they [the courts] do make that decision, whenever that is, I'm sure that it will probably be appealed to the appellate court and maybe even to the Supreme Court," Hoskins said. "I think we're quite a ways from actually having a final decision."
Several congressional candidates plan to continue their campaigns regardless of the map's ultimate fate.
"I'm in it for the long haul," said Bradley Patty, a Republican candidate from Fayette running for the Fifth District. "If the map adjusts halfway through, or whatever the legal outcome would be, I'm not in it for the aspect of winning whichever map is in my favor."
"It is challenging, but is it a setback? No." Bethany Mann, a Democratic candidate from St. Peters running for the Third District, said. "When they drew up the congressional map, they gave us all of St. Charles County and most of Boone County, and we're poised to win in the Third Congressional regardless of how they cut the map."
Taylor Burks, a Republican candidate from Columbia and former Boone County clerk running in the Fifth District, remained confident in the Missouri First map. He said that while the changes mean reaching voters who may not be familiar with him, he’s confident he can connect with a new base.
"This is the map, the attorney general and secretary of state have both said this is the map," Burks said, "I was a Republican clerk for a Democrat county, which means I have experience talking to folks from all walks of life in a college town."
Candidates who file before 5 p.m. Tuesday will select a number by random drawing to determine the candidates' primary ballot placement. After Tuesday, candidates are placed on the ballot in order of their filing.
To file, candidates will need their filing fee receipt from their political party and proof of identity. Candidates who are not running for a federal position will also need proof that they completed the Candidate's Affidavit of Tax Payments and Bonding Requirements, which is filed with the Missouri Department of Revenue.
Candidate filing will remain open until March 31.
