Races in Jefferson City, Columbia draw candidates as filing opens for April municipal election

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Candidates started filing to run for municipal office on Tuesday, formalizing their campaigns ahead of the April 2026 election.

Each of Jefferson City's five wards will have a seat up for election. As of Tuesday afternoon, the following candidates had filed:

• First Ward
  • Randy Hoselton (incumbent)
  • George Bacon
• Second Ward
  • Mike Lester (incumbent)
• Third Ward
  • Treaka Young (incumbent)
• Fourth Ward
  • Chris Lueckel (incumbent)
• Fifth Ward
  • No candidates filed by the end of the day Tuesday

Three seats on the Columbia Board of Education will be up for election. As of Tuesday afternoon, three people had filed to run for the board seats. April Ferrao, John Lyman and Paul Harper are each running for re-election.

There are also three seats up for election for the Jefferson City School District Board of Education. A spokesperson for the district confirmed that so far that six people have filed to run for the board: Gretchen Duckworth, Michelle Rodemeyer, Trent Vallandingham, Ryan Towner, Cierra Griffin and Kristopher Scheperle all filed on Tuesday.

According to the Missouri Secretary of State's website, the last day to file for the April election is Dec. 30.