The race for Missouri House District 52 pits two Pettis County candidates with different priorities for the state budget, education, taxes and local issues.
Republican Israel Baeza and Democrat Rene Vance are seeking the seat currently held by Rep. Brad Pollitt, R-Sedalia, who is term-limited. Both candidates are listed on the Nov. 3 general election ballot.
For Vance, the campaign has centered on what she sees as the need for greater investment in education, seniors and nonprofit organizations, along with a more bipartisan approach to state government.
“I wanted to bring full funding to our schools,” Vance said. “That’s a priority, because our future is our kids.”
Vance said she worries that inadequate education funding could contribute to young people leaving Missouri rather than building their futures in the state.
She also pointed to senior services and nonprofit organizations as areas of concern. Vance said organizations increasingly have to compete for charitable dollars as residents face higher costs for necessities such as food and fuel.
“When the money dries up for all of us, there’s going to be a huge problem,” Vance said.
Vance said she is particularly concerned about the state’s budget heading into the next legislative session. She also said she believes the Legislature will need to work across party lines to address Missouri’s financial challenges.
“Bipartisanship is very, very important to me,” Vance said. “We need to do that, and that’s the only way we’re going to get through this.”
Vance has run for the District 52 seat previously, including against Pollitt in 2024. State election records show Pollitt received 11,020 votes to Vance’s 3,816 in that race.
Baeza, meanwhile, enters the general election after winning the Republican primary with nearly 70% of the vote.
As Pettis County’s Eastern District commissioner, Baeza said his experience working with budgets and setting priorities would be an asset in Jefferson City.
“The budget is going to be a top priority,” Baeza said. “There’s a lot of concerns. Like you said, there’s no, unfortunately, there is no magic wand for this.”
Baeza identified landfill regulations as another priority, saying Pettis County needs reform and that the issue has a regional impact. He said he recently met with the new director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and was encouraged by the willingness to discuss potential changes.
Baeza also listed infrastructure, economic development, cost of living and reducing the tax burden among his priorities.
“I’ve actually done that in Pettis County,” Baeza said of lowering taxes, pointing to efforts during his time as commissioner to reduce property tax rates.
Baeza said he believes Missouri needs to reconsider its reliance on property taxes to fund local services.
“I do feel that it’s an unsustainable system to expect people to just pay more and more and more on a property that they either own or are paying off,” Baeza said.
The candidates also differ in how they describe the political environment they would bring to Jefferson City.
Vance said she hopes the November election will weaken the current dominance of one party in the Legislature and force lawmakers to work together.
Baeza, who describes himself as a conservative, emphasized his own approach to building relationships across political and personal differences.
“One thing that I’ve always prided myself in is building relationships,” Baeza said. “And that means with people that agree with me, people that disagree with me, people that support me, people that don’t support me.”
Both candidates said they intend to remain accessible to Pettis County residents if elected.
Vance said her campaign conversations have reinforced her belief that residents are looking for change. Baeza said his door-to-door campaigning and participation in community events have helped him hear directly from residents about their concerns.
“I enjoy hearing what they’re saying,” Baeza said. “And honestly, they get to share some of their concerns about the work we’re doing as well.”
District 52 includes most of Pettis County, including Sedalia, La Monte, Smithton, Houstonia and Hughesville.
Chris Howell can be reached at 660-530-0146.
