Chuck Basye withdraws from state Senate race

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A former Republican state representative has dropped out of a local state Senate race, leaving only a Democrat seeking the seat for now.

Chuck Basye said Thursday over social media that he will withdraw from the Senate District 19 race citing health issues. He confirmed the information to ABC 17 News over the phone.

In a statement on Facebook, Basye wrote that recent tests came back positive for another type of cancer after he was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer.

"While my desire to have a strong, conservative champion for Boone County in the State Senate has not changed, my ability to dedicate myself to that cause has," Basye said in his statement. "Whether another Republican candidate should choose to step up and throw their hat into the arena, or Stephen Webber becomes our next State Senator without a challenge, I wish that whoever should be given the honor to represent our community does so in the interest of all our citizens."

Basye filed to run for state Senate in March as the only Republican candidate in the race for District 19. The seat is currently held by Caleb Rowden who has hit his term limit.

Democrat Stephen Webber is now the only candidate.

Webber said in a social media post on X, "I pray that Chuck has a speedy recovery, and my thoughts are with his family during this difficult time."

Basye said he initially agreed to file for the senate seat to challenge Webber, saying no one should go unchallenged when it comes to important issues being decided in Missouri.

"I think (Webber) would have never been challenged on any of the very important issues facing our state right now," Basye said. "So, with somebody in the race going through forums and the political processes, you'd have to take a stand on issues whether it's abortion, taxes, immigration, whatever it might be."

The chair of the Boone County Republican Central Committee, Anthony Lupo, said two people have shown interest in running for the senate seat, but he is unable to give out names at this time. He doesn't believe Basye's withdrawal is going to make it more difficult for a republican to win the seat.

"Chuck certainly has name recognition and he's very well-liked by the community, especially in our circles," Lupo said. "When you look at Boone County as a whole, demographically we're a little behind, but with a little hard work, I think we can win the county."

Redistricting in 2022 caused District 19 to shrink from a wider area to now only cover Boone County. The seat has been held by a Republican for over ten years now, by Rowden and Kurt Schaefer before him.

Columbia College political science professor Terry Smith said the redistricting makes it more likely the seat will be won by a Democrat.

"It is a democratic district now because it is entirely in Boone County, and whomever (Republicans) choose would have an uphill race," Smith said.

State statute says the Republican Party can now nominate a candidate for the race. Smith said while it's not too late for republicans to contest Webber, they will be starting over in a sense.

"Webber's been running for quite some time and he's got a nice campaign chest," Smith said. "The Republicans will have to start over if they decide to contest the race."

Republicans currently have a majority in the state senate, and Smith said even if this seat flips to a Democrat, democrats would still need to win multiple other senate seats in order to no longer be a super minority.

Lupo said the republican party is waiting for the secretary of state to announce what can be done. He and Basye both said they would like to see a good candidate step forward in the race.

"Hopefully they'll recruit somebody and we'll have a competitive race soon," Basye said.

The chair of the Boone County Democratic Party, Lyra Noce, said in a statement, "The Boone County Democratic Party prioritizes flipping the Senate District 19 regardless of who the Republican candidate may be. Our thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Basye and his family as he faces his diagnosis and focuses on his health."

Both Lupo and Smith said they wish Basye a speedy recovery, as well.

Rep. David Tyson Smith also posted on X, "My prayers go out to Rep. Chuck Basye, my former House colleague and his family. Praying for a full recovery."