Missouri voters will choose nominees for governor, lieutenant governor, the Missouri House, Missouri Senate and many more offices on Aug. 6
byRance Burger
Updated
Polls are closed across Greene County. Check back at SGFCitizen.org for reports on key races as they become available. Early editions of our coverage should start coming out at around 9 p.m.
The campaigns are in the final hours and now it is up to you, the voters, to choose your representatives for county, state and national offices.
For the past several weeks, the Springfield Daily Citizen staff has been bringing you in-depth coverage of the competitive races on the Aug. 6 ballot.
All of our election coverage is accessible for free thanks to support from our partner Merrill Lynch Nelson Hallam.
What follows is our Springfield Voting Guide, offering a quick recap of the offices and ballot measures voters will consider in the primaries. Follow the links for free access to our coverage. If the link goes to coverage from other media, we will note if a subscription is required.
When a voter checks in at their polling place for a Missouri primary, an election worker will ask which ballot they would like. A voter has three choices: Republican, Democrat or Libertarian.
According to the Missouri Secretary of State’s Office, “Voters who do not wish to select a party ballot may request a ballot containing other issues, if their jurisdiction’s ballot contains issues.”
What to know about how to vote
When is the election?
Election Day is Aug. 6. Polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.
How do I register to vote or check my registration?
- The registration deadline to vote on Aug. 6 has already passed.
- Check this website to confirm the status of your registration.
Where do I vote?
You can find a searchable map with a list of polling locations by scrolling down on this Voting Information page from the Greene County Clerk’s office.
What kind of identification do I need in order to vote?
You will be required to provide some type of valid government-issued photo ID (see examples) in order to vote on Nov. 8. Examples include: a non-expired Missouri drivers license, or obtain a free non-drivers license issued by the state; a U.S. passport; or a military photo ID.
How do I learn about the offices up for election and the candidates?
Step 1. You need to determine the districts in which you live.
You can use this state website to enter your address, then look for “View My Districts” and click on that to find the list of all the jurisdictions that apply to your address.
Step 2. Once you know your districts, you can learn about the candidates at the links provided below — and read Daily Citizen coverage by clicking on the related list of headlines.
Missouri governor: Who will replace Mike Parson?
In the campaign to replace Gov. Mike Parson, who is term-limited, Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe and State Sen. Bill Eigel lead a field of nine Republican candidates.
The Democratic Party primary has five candidates, two of whom are from Springfield. House Minority Leader Crystal Quade takes on businessman Mike Hamra in Hamra’s first effort at running for public office.
Republican party primary
Campaign Digest: GOP race for governor could draw Dem voters in primary
by David Stoeffler
Democratic party primary
Springfield candidates lead field of 5 Democrats running for governor in Missouri
by Jack McGee
Committee on Illegal Immigrant Crimes holds first public hearing in Springfield
The committee was formed “in response to rising concerns about illegal immigrant crimes,” and ahead of a primary election.
by Jack McGee
Republican frontrunners
Campaign Digest: Mike Kehoe says ‘if you want a flame-thrower … I’m probably not your guy’
by David Stoeffler
Campaign Digest: Jay Ashcroft says turn off the TV ads and tune into his conservative message
by David Stoeffler
Campaign Digest: Could Bill Eigel catch genie in a bottle in race for governor?
by David Stoeffler
On campaign trail, Crystal Quade credited for supporting Democrats across Missouri
After eight years in the legislature, including six at the helm of the House Democrats, Quade is running for governor.
by Jack McGee
Mike Hamra promises to ‘take the fight to the Republicans’ in campaign for governor
Mike Hamra admits he’s not a “typical candidate” for political office, but feels he is well-suited for the governorship.
by Jack McGee
Lieutenant governor’s office up for grabs
Six Republic candidates are in the primary for lieutenant governor, and office up for grabs by way of Mike Kehoe running for governor. State Sen. Lincoln Hough, R-Springfield, makes an effort for the GOP nomination against a field that includes State Sen. Holly Thompson Rehder, R-Sikeston, and St. Louis attorney Dave Wasinger.
More on the Republican primary for lieutenant governor:
Lincoln Hough faces five challengers in GOP primary for lieutenant governor
by Jack McGee
Other statewide contests Missourians will consider
The attorney general, secretary of state and treasurer positions are all contested.
Secretary of State
Shane Schoeller leans on election experience in 8-person race for secretary of state
The GOP candidates for secretary of state envision an election system in Missouri that purges voter rolls of non-citizens, uses bipartisan election judges in every county and employs voting machines not connected to the internet to ensure fair and accurate elections.
by Kathleen O'Dell
Greene County Clerk Shane Schoeller served in the Missouri House of Representatives from 2007 to 2013. He spent one month as the speaker of the House.
Schoeller ran for secretary of state in 2012, but lost to Democrat Jason Kander in the November general election. Schoeller then ran for Greene County clerk in 2014 and has held the office ever since.
The GOP primary field includes Missouri Speaker of the House Dean Plocher, R-Des Peres, State Sen. Denny Hoskins, R-Warrensburg, and financier Valentina Gomez.
Gomez is know for making social media videos in which she speaks against Missouri’s LGBTQ+ population, spouting MAGA talking points and for burning books on camera.
State Treasurer Vivek Malek was appointed in 2023 and makes his first attempt at winning an election and serving a four-year term. To do that, he’ll need to defeat a field of five challengers in the Republican primary.
The field includes Lori Rook, a Springfield attorney who has been the owner of Ozarks Elder Law for the past 12 years.
Cody Smith and Andrew Koenig are both experienced state legislators, while challengers Karan Pujji and Tina Goodrick have both run for office and run campaigns in the past.
State Treasurer primary
Springfield’s Lori Rook among six GOP candidates for state treasurer
by Kathleen O'Dell
Greene County sheriff faces GOP challenger
Ben mcmains challenges jim arnott
In first contest since 2008, Greene County Sheriff challenged in Republican primary
Barring the last minute bid of an independent candidate, the nominee will run uncontested in the Nov. 5 general election.
by Jack McGee
Ballot issues: Voters weigh two amendments
Amendment 4 asks voters across Missouri about the financing of the Kansas City Police Department. If enacted, the KCPD would see its budget increase by about $39 million, and such budgeting would be required by the Missouri Constitution.
Amendment 1 asks voters to exempt child care facilities from paying property taxes. A “yes” vote is a vote to amend the Missouri Constitution to offer a property tax exemption to child care centers.
READ MORE (from our allies at the Missouri Independent): KCPD funding, child care tax breaks: Missouri’s August ballot issues explained
Missouri House of Representatives and Senate
Senate District 29
GOP Primary: Mike Moon vs. Susan Haralson
Susan Haralson challenges Mike Moon in Missouri Senate District 29
A newcomer to the political scene is going head-to-head with a veteran legislator in the Republican primary in Senate District 29, which encompasses Barry, Lawrence, McDonald and Christian counties. Sen. Mike Moon is challenged by Susan Haralson, owner of a home health care agency with eight offices in Missouri. Moon, who has an Ash Grove…
by Susan Wade
House District 130
Incumbent Bishop Davidson, R-Republic, is unopposed in the Republican primary. Davidson will wait until November to face Democratic Party challenger Leslie Jones
House District 131
Democrat Ashley Cossins is unopposed in her primary, as is incumbent Bill Owen, R-Springfield. Owen seeks his fourth two-year term in the Missouri House.
House District 132
First time candidate challenges familiar face in GOP primary for Springfield’s 132nd District
In Springfield’s lone legislative primary, two Republicans offer vastly different views on the issues and plans to address them if elected to represent House District 132.
by Jack McGee
Republicans Stephanos Freeman and Bernadeen McAfee square off in the GOP primary. Democrat Jeremy Dean waits in the wings, unopposed in his primary.
House Minority Leader Crystal Quade occupies the office for House District 132, but is term limited and running for governor.
House District 133
Incumbent Melanie Stinnett, R-Springfield, seeks reelection for the first time. Stinnett won office in 2022. She has no Republican primary opponent, but will face Democrat Derrick Nowlin, who is also unopposed in his primary, in the November general election.
House District 134
Rep. Alex Riley, R-Springfield is unopposed in both the GOP primary and in the general election. Riley was first elected in 2020 and reelected in 2022.
House District 135
Republican Michael Hasty in unopposed in the primary. Incumbent Betsy Fogle, D-Springfield, comes off her second term with no challenge from within her own party.
House District 136
Rep. Stephanie Hein, D-Springfield, and her Republican challenger Jim Robinette are unopposed in their party’s primaries.
House District 137
District 137 spans a wide section of Greene County to the east of Springfield. U.S. Navy veteran Darin Chappell, R-Rogersville, seeks reelection for the first time since winning office in 2022. He’ll be challenged in November by Bryce Lockwood, who is unopposed in the Democratic primary.
House District 140
Christian County Elections
GOP rep. challenged in Christian County’s House District 140
The two Republican candidates for House District 140 in the August primary, Jamie Gragg and Danny Garrison, have deep roots in Christian County.
by Susan Wade
Rance Burger
Rance Burger is the managing editor for the Daily Citizen. He previously covered local governments from February 2022 to April 2023. He is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia with 17 years experience in journalism. Reach him at rburger@sgfcitizen.org or by calling 417-837-3669. Twitter: @RanceBurger More by Rance Burger
