August election: Mid-Missouri congressional and legislative races
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Aug. 4 ballot includes primaries for each U.S. congressional district in Mid-Missouri and for a few of the area's state legislative seats.
Many of the races for Mid-Missouri legislative seats won't be decided until November and some don't even feature primary contests. However, voters will in a few races decide which candidates will go head-to-head in November or even the outright winner of the district.
Fourth Congressional District
A large portion of Mid-Missouri, including Boone County, falls in the Fourth Congressional District, which also reaches to the state's western border. The district is made up of 24 counties.
The district has been represented for nearly 10 years by Vicky Hartzler, who first won election in November 2010 and took office the following January. The former school teacher spent six years as a state representative and helped lead the push to outlaw gay marriage in Missouri in 2004.
She has enjoyed easy victories in each of her subsequent congressional elections, including primaries, and has reliably voted with House conservatives.
Hartzler faces a primary challenge this year from Neal Gist, who calls Laurie, on the Morgan and Camden County border, home.
Gist is running a low-money campaign, having raised only about $5,000 since the election cycle began. He labels himself a rural homesteader on his website and labels his campaign "grassroots."
The winner will go on to face Democrat Lindsey Simmons, who is running unopposed in her party's primary, and the winner of a Libertarian contest between Robert Smith and Steven Koonse in November.
LINKS
Hartzler July 17 48-hour contribution report
Hartzler July quarterly report
Hartzler April quarterly report
Third Congressional District
The Third Congressional District includes a major portion of Mid-Missouri, with Jefferson City and much of the Lake of the Ozarks area included in its boundaries.
The district is represented by Blaine Luetkemeyer, who lives in St. Elizabeth. Luetkemeyer spent six years in the Missouri House before he was elected to the Third District in 2008.
The incumbent congressman faces four opponents in his party's primary. Only one, however, has reported any fundraising to the Federal Election Commission -- Brandon Wilkinson of Cedar Hill. He has raised a little more than $3,000 for the election cycle.
Wilkinson labels himself on his campaign site a "regular everyday middle class working American."
Two Democrats -- Megan Rezabek and Dennis Oglesby -- are seeking their party's nomination to the seat Luetkemeyer holds. Only Oglesby has reported raising any money. He has taken in close to $14,000 for the election.
Oglesby is from Warrenton.
LINKS
Luetkemeyer July 18 48-hour finance report
Luetkemeyer July 20 48-hour finance report
Luetkemeyer July quarterly report
Amended Luetkemeyer April quarterly report
Oglesby April quarterly report
Sixth Congressional District
The Sixth Congressional District covers a wide swath of land across northern Missouri, stretching from St. Joseph in the west to Hannibal in the east.
The district takes in all or part of 36 counties.
Graves held seats in the Missouri House and Senate before winning his fist term in Congress in 2000. The incumbent faces a challenge from within his own party in Chris Ryan, who has reported no fundraising during the election cycle.
Five Democrats are also seeking the seat but only one, Henry Martin, has reported raising money.
LINKS
Graves pre-primary finance report
Mid-Missouri state House seats
Tuesday's primary election will determine the winner of two area Missouri House seats.
One is House District 58, which takes in Morgan and part of Miller County. Rep. David Wood is termed out, so Tim Faber or Willard Haley will take over this seat after winning the Republican primary.
In House District 124, where Rep. Rocky Miller is term-limited out, five Republicans are seeking the seat. The district covers parts of Camden and Miller counties.
Lisa Thomas, Bernie Mowinski, Duell Wayne Lauderdale, Benny Earl Thomas and Luke A. Hagedorn are all vying to replace Miller.
Three Republicans in the 62nd House District -- which includes parts of Maries, Miller, Cole and Osage counties -- are seeking their party's nomination to run in November against the lone Democrat seeking the seat, Nancy Ragan.
The seat is being vacated by state Rep. Tom Hurst. Republicans seeking the seat are Chris Beyer, Bruce Sassmann and Tom Reed.
Two Republicans -- Tim Taylor and Donnie Baragary -- are running in the 48th House District to take on Democrat Bill Betteridge in November. The seat is being vacated by Rep. Dave Muntzel.
The 48th District includes parts of Cooper, Pettis, Howard, Randolph, Saline and Chariton counties.
