Candidate filing began Tuesday, Feb. 27 for the Aug. 6 primary election in Missouri.
County candidates can file at the Pettis County Clerk’s Office, while state and federal candidates file with the Missouri Secretary of State’s Office. Filing ends March 26.
Candidates must list a political party. Those who win their party’s race in August will go on to the General Election on Nov. 5.
Gov. Mike Parson, a Republican, is term limited and cannot run for reelection. He became governor in 2018 after former Gov. Eric Greitens resigned. Parson finished the remainder of that term and was elected to another full term in 2020. Several current state officeholders are entering the race to win his seat.
Republicans who filed Tuesday include Darrell L. McClanahan III, Robert J. Olson, Jeremy Gundel, Chris Wright, Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, Darren L. Grant, Secretary of State John R. “Jay” Ashcroft, and state Sen. Bill Eigel.
Democrats include state Rep. Crystal Quade, who serves as House Minority Leader, Sheryl Gladney and Eric Morrison.
Bill Slantz, a Libertarian, also filed.
Parson appointed Kehoe as lieutenant governor in 2018 when Parson became governor. Kehoe was elected to a full term in 2020. There are no term limits for lieutenant governor in Missouri, however, Kehoe has chosen to run for governor in the 2024 election cycle.
Republicans who filed Tuesday include Dave Wasinger, Paul Berry III, state Sen. Holly Rehder, state Sen. Lincoln Hough and state Rep. Dean Plocher, who serves as Speaker of the House.
Ashcroft was elected in 2016 and reelected in 2020. There are no term limits for secretary of state in Missouri, however, Ashcroft has chosen to run for governor in the 2024 election cycle.
Republicans who filed Tuesday include Valentina Gomez, former state Rep. Shane Schoeller, state Sen. Denny Hoskins and state Rep. Adam J. Schwadron.
Democrats include Monique Williams, Gavin Bena and state Rep. Barbara Phifer.
Parson appointed Andrew Bailey as Missouri’s Attorney General in November 2022 to fill the vacancy created by Eric Schmitt’s election to the U.S. Senate. Bailey, a Republican, has filed as a candidate for his first full term.
Andrew Scharf, a former assistant U.S. attorney and policy director for Greitens, has also filed as a Republican candidate.
Elad J. Gross, a Democrat, also filed. Gross, a former Missouri assistant attorney general, also ran for the seat in 2020.
Parson appointed Vivek Malek, a Republican, as the state treasurer in December 2022 to fill the vacancy created when Scott Fitzpatrick was elected as state auditor.
Republicans who filed Tuesday include Lori Rook, state Rep. Cody Smith and state Sen. Andrew Koenig.
Sen. Josh Hawley, R-MO, was elected in 2018, and 2024 marks his first reelection campaign. He was in the middle of his first term as Missouri’s Attorney General when he was elected to the U.S. Senate. Hawley has announced he is seeking a second term but has not yet filed.
No Republicans filed Tuesday.
Democrats include December L. Harmon, state Sen. Karla May, and Lucas Kunce, who also ran for U.S. Senate in 2022.
W.C. Young, a Libertarian, also filed.
Congressman Mark Alford, R-District 4, was elected to his first term in 2022. He filed Tuesday to seek a second term.
Democrat Jeannette Cass also filed.
State Rep. Brad Pollitt, R-Sedalia, was first elected to the Missouri House of Representatives in 2018 after retiring as superintendent of Sedalia School District 200. He represents Pettis County. Pollitt filed on Tuesday to seek his fourth two-year term in the House. If elected in November, it would be Pollitt’s last term, as state representatives are limited to four terms, or eight years.
Democrat Rene Vance also filed. Vance, chair of the Pettis County Democratic Central Committee, also challenged Pollitt for his seat in 2022.
State Rep. Rodger L. Reedy, R-Windsor, was first elected to the Missouri House of Representatives in 2018. He represents portions of Pettis, Benton and Johnston counties, which was the result of redistricting in 2022. Reedy filed on Tuesday to seek his fourth two-year term in the House. If elected in November, it would be his last term, as state representatives are limited to four terms, or eight years.
Michael D. Walbom, a Democrat, also filed.
Judge Jeff Mittelhauser, a Republican, was appointed to the seat in late 2023 to fill a vacancy created by the retirement of former Judge Robert Koffman. Mittelhauser, who previously served as an associate circuit judge, was the only candidate to file Tuesday.
Pettis County Eastern Commissioner Israel Baeza, a Republican, was nominated by the Pettis County Republican Committee in October 2018 and appointed by Parson in November 2018 to fill a vacancy left by former Eastern Commissioner Brent Hampy. He served the remainder of Hampy’s term, which ended in 2020, and he was elected to a full term that year. Baeza, of Sedalia, has filed to seek his second full term.
Leonard Salmons, a Republican from Sedalia, has also filed.
Pettis County Western Commissioner Jim Marcum, a Republican from Sedalia, was first elected in 2012. He filed Tuesday to seek his fourth term.
Other Republican candidates include Steve Cannon, of Sedalia; Mark E. Rieckhoff, of Houstonia; and Mark A. Edwards, of Sedalia.
Pettis County Public Administrator Charli Ackerman, a Democrat from Sedalia, was first elected in 2004. She filed Tuesday to seek her sixth term.
Republican Brandy Arnett, of Houstonia, also filed.
Pettis County Treasurer Kim Lyne, a Republican from La Monte, was first elected in 2012. She filed Tuesday to seek her fourth term.
Pettis County Coroner Robert “Skip” Smith, a Republican from Sedalia, was first elected in 2004. He filed Tuesday for his sixth term.
Pettis County Sheriff Brad Anders, a Republican from Sedalia, was first elected in 2020. He filed Tuesday for his second term.
Pettis County Assessor Christopher C. Woolery, a Republican from Sedalia, was first elected in 2016. He filed Tuesday for his third term.
