Open Third Congressional District seat draws nine candidates

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Nine candidates have filed for Missouri's open Third Congressional District seat after Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer decided not to run again after serving in the position since 2009.

The Third Congressional District of Missouri is made up of all or part of 16 different counties. The district splits both Columbia and Boone County along Interstate 70, with areas of the county north of that line in the Fourth Congressional District.

• Boone
• Callaway
• Camden
• Cole
• Cooper
• Gasconade
• Jefferson
• Maries
• Miller
• Montgomery
• Moniteau
• Osage
• St. Charles
• Warren
• Washington

Luetkemeyer, a Republican, has represented the district for 15 years and has decided now is the best time to take a step back.

"My family has always been at the center of all my life decisions and right now it's time to make them the center of my life again," Luetkemeyer said.

He said he has some mixed emotions about the chapter closing but feels this is the best decision.

"I'm both kind of, you know, kind of a little disappointed that we are not going farther," Luetkemeyer said. "But at the end of the day, I'm excited to be able to spend more time with the family and be able to come home full-time now, instead of part-time."

Luetkemeyer said the best part about the job was helping people.

"The conceptual side is where you can really make a difference in people's lives immediately," Luetkemeyer said. "Nobody knows about it except for the person that you helped or the group you helped but at the end of the day, you look in the mirror and you know you've made a difference in somebody's life."

LINK: Watch the full interview with Luetkemeyer

Six Republicans, two Democrats and one Libertarian are running for his spot.

Chad Bicknell (R)

According to Bicknell's author biography online, he works as an Amazon transportation manager and is a gay conservative who has an objective outlook on politics.

He was born and raised in Arnold, which is south of St. Louis, and wrote "An American Carol" in 2022 which is about "a highly ambitious progressive who hates the fourth of July." The summary of the novel has a similar plot to Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol."

Kyle Bone (R)

According to Bone's campaign website he spent four years in the U.S. Navy and has worked for several companies including Jet Corp., Trans World Express and Lockheed Martin.

Bone's campaign focuses on increasing border security and giving school districts the option to decide if employees should carry guns.

Bruce Bowman (R)

Bowman's campaign website says he served in the U.S. Army and has a background in business and technology.

He says he supports affordable health care, upholding legal immigration and energy independence. Bowman also aims to support veterans and their needs after they leave the service.

Arnie C. "A.C" Dienoff (R)

Dienoff's Facebook page says he is a leader who has studied business administration and political science.

No photo for Dienoff was available at the time of publication.

Dr. Bob Onder (R)

Onder served two terms in the Missouri State Senate representing in the St. Charles area from 2015-2022. He also served in the Missouri House of Representatives from 2007-2008.

Onder has been endorsed by former president Donald Trump.

"The president recognizes that I am the America First Trump conservative in this race, the candidate who will most help him," Onder said. "I was very honored to receive the president's endorsement."

Onder says he wants to focus on securing the border and return to the "Trump secure border" with policies of building the wall and the policy known as "remain in Mexico." He says he wants to get inflation under control and end the Department of Education.

"Health care is an enormous part of the federal budget. It's an enormous part of our economy," Onder said. "My background as a physician [and] as an attorney is going to be helpful to help Donald Trump enact his agenda in his second term."

LINK: Watch the full interview with Onder

Kurt Schaefer (R)

Schaefer has served as a state prosecutor and represented Missouri's 19th Senate District from 2009 to 2017.

"If you want to solve people's problems, you have to work hard," Schaefer said. "It is hard work. I know that hard work. I've done it and I'm prepared to do it for the Third Congressional District when I go to Congress."

Schaefer said the country is in a "terrible position right now" that we haven't seen in generations.

"We've got a terrible economy. We've got 400% increase in home prices. We've got people who can't afford groceries," Schaefer said. "To add to that, we've got an open southern border ... those things need to be fixed and they need to be fixed by Congress."

Luetkemeyer has endorsed Schaefer.

Schaefer said both he and Luetkemeyer are conservative but the "nature of Congress has changed and he's not afraid to "throw elbows." He attributes this to his prosecutor days.

LINK: Watch the full interview with Schaefer

Andrew Daly (D)

According to Andrew Daly's campaign website, he has a bachelor's of science in applied mathematics and is the activities director at the Missouri School for the Deaf in Fulton. Daly says his role in education helps him strive to achieve a "better education for all." He also states he wants to push for fair wages.

Daly did not reply to ABC 17's multiple requests for an interview.

Bethany Mann (D)

Democratic candidate Bethany Mann has a background in science and technology. Mann's campaign website says her platform priorities include education, infrastructure, health care, voting rights, reproductive rights and the environment.

"My main priorities are going to be making sure that our water is clean and free of environmental contaminants like lead and forever chemicals," Mann said. "I want to make sure our students are fully supported from pre-K to secondary education. And then finally, I believe our health care should be expanded, not limited."

Mann said she believes she is most qualified to hold the spot due to her experience in manufacturing, agriculture and water infrastructure.

"I already work with stakeholders from water, municipalities, government agencies and big corporations to solve big problems like clean up their water," Mann said. "I'm confident that I can deliver those same results for constituents here in Missouri's Third."

LINK: Watch the full interview with Mann here

Jordan Rowden (L)

Libertarian candidate Jordan Rowden's website says he will not vote for gun restrictions, wants to limit government control and aims to reduce the nation's debt.

Luetkemeyer said whoever wins the position should remember what the job is truly about.

"This job is about people," Luetkemeyer said. "It's about representing people and their interests and concerns and protecting them against the kind of nonsense that's going on in Washington right now."

The primary election is set for Aug. 6.