Former TV reporter Mark Alford wins Republican primary in the Fourth Congressional District
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Voters in the primary election voted Mark Alford as the Republican candidate to potentially fill the seat of U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler in Missouri's Fourth Congressional District.
Alford beat the rest of the GOP race with 35% of the vote.
Rick Brattin came in second with 21% of the vote and Kalena Burce came in third with 16%.
Taylor Burks, the only Mid-Missouri candidate, took 10% of the race.
Alford will face Jack Truman (D) and Randy Langkraehr (L) in the Nov. election.
MARK ALFORD
Mark Alford is a former TV reporter from Kansas City. His platform includes a promise to investigate the 2020 presidential election. His TV ads show a cross and he pledges to put God back in schools.
"There are so many discrepancies and so many questions that have just been glossed over," Alford told ABC 17 News about the election.
Hartzler has held this seat for more than a decade. With her run for U.S. Senate, seven Republicans are fighting to fill the vacancy. The race includes seven GOP candidates, with five of them actively campaigning for the nomination.
U.S. House districts were redrawn earlier this year, including significant changes to the Fourth District. The new map splits Boone County between the Third and Fourth districts, and Columbia is split between the two, as well.
Alford will move onto the primary election to take on the Democratic and Libertarian candidates in November.
Here are the other candidates that he was up against:
TAYLOR BURKS
Taylor Burks is the only Mid-Missouri candidate in the race. He's a veteran and a former Boone County clerk.
"When we talk about restoring faith and confidence in what our elections look like, I think that means having somebody who has experienced running elections," Burks told ABC 17 News.
RICK BRATTIN
Rick Brattin is one of two Republican candidates from Hartzler's hometown of Harrisonville. He brings with him extensive experience in the state legislature.
"We've got to really dive into the budget in the spending that's causing the printing of this money to devalue your dollar," Brattin previously said.
KALENA BRUCE
Kalena Bruce is a farmer and CPA from southwest Missouri's Stockton. She has the endorsement of the Missouri Farm Bureau and Gov. Mike Parson and promises to focus on agriculture in the largely rural district.
"It's a tool that we have as farmers and ranchers to make sure that we're continuing to provide the safest, affordable food supply for the nation. And it's a very important piece of what Missouri does. Agriculture is Missouri's No. 1 industry," Bruce said in an interview with ABC 17 News.
BILL IRWIN
Bill Irwin is the second candidate from Hartzler's hometown of Harrisonville. He's running in part on his military experience and Missouri roots.
"I think the most important thing people need to know for my foundation of what I'm going to make decisions on is I am a Bible-believing Christian, I believe this is the infallible, inerrant word of God," Irwin said.
