Missouri's primary election is less than one month away and candidates for several statewide races are working quickly to wrap up last-minute campaign strategies before appearing on the ballot. One of these races is Missouri lieutenant governor.
Missouri's current lieutenant governor is Mike Kehoe, who is running for Missouri governor.
In some ways, the position of lieutenant governor can be thought of similarly to the vice president. Upon the death, conviction, impeachment, failure to qualify, resignation or other disabilities, the powers and duties of the governor devolve upon the lieutenant governor. However, lieutenant governor candidates run independently from the governor, rather than in a team like president and vice president.
Missouri's lieutenant governor is a member of the Missouri Senate, serving specifically as the official Elderly Advocate, making this individual responsible for ensuring advocacy for Missouri's senior citizens, according to the official Missouri state website .
Missouri's lieutenant governor also serves on several boards and commissions, including, but not limited to, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Board of Fund Commissioners, Missouri Rural Economic Development Council, Missouri Tourism Commission and Missouri Housing Development Commission.
Missouri's primary election is Tuesday, Aug 6. This election narrows down the candidates to determine who appears as each party's nominee in November's general election.
In the primary election, there are eight people running for Missouri lieutenant governor, including two Democrats and six Republicans. The News-Leader was able to speak with two of the candidates about their backgrounds, campaigns and desires for the position.
More: What's on the ballot in Springfield and Greene County in the August primary elections
Richard Brown
Democrat candidate Richard Brown is a Kansas City native who currently serves in the Missouri House of Representatives, representing District 27, which encompasses southeast Kansas City. He was elected into this role in 2016.
Brown is an alumnus of the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg and Webster University. Post-graduation, Brown worked as a schoolteacher in Kansas City Public Schools. He taught for 23 years before retirement.
The News-Leader was unsuccessful in connecting with Brown for an interview by press deadline, but he did complete Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023.
Brown's main point of interest as a candidate is affordable housing, childcare and healthcare. According to his survey responses, Brown helped expand Medicaid in Missouri, worked to remove restrictions on advance practice registered nurses and supported direct patient access to physical therapists without a physician referral.
Per Brown's official Facebook Page on July 15, he was endorsed by Indivisible St. Louis and Abortion Action Missouri . He also was deemed a Gun Sense Candidate by Moms Demand Action .
On July 15, campaign committees were required to submit their July quarterly financial reports.
According to the Friends Of Richard Brown July quarterly report, Brown's campaign received $1,735 between April 1 and June 30.
Anastasia Syes
Democrat candidate Anastasia Syes has a fairly small digital footprint and the News-Leader was unsuccessful in connecting with her by press deadline. However, she did complete Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey this year.
According to Ballotpedia , Syes was born in Lafayette, Louisiana and attended Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Her career has included work in the nonprofit and human activism sectors.
Syes indicated in her Ballotpedia survey that as lieutenant governor she would remove personal property taxes on vehicles and fight for environmental safety issues, voter rights, women's reproductive rights and the voice of low-income and middle class citizens.
Syes' campaign committee, ThePeoplesPersonSyes, did not file a July quarterly report and her April quarterly report featured limited activity.
Tim Baker
Republican Tim Baker is a Franklin County native and has served as the Franklin County Clerk since 2018.
Baker is an alumnus of East Central College in Union and Missouri Southern State University in Joplin. Post-graduation, Baker worked for his family's ice manufacturing company, Baker's Ice Company. He served as president for about 30 years, before selling the company in 2011.
In an interview with the News-Leader, Baker said there are a few boards and commissions the lieutenant governor sits on he has special interest in, including the Missouri Tourism Commission — he served as the first tourism chair in Franklin County for six years — and Buy Missouri , an economic development initiative to promote Missouri business.
"As a former manufacturer, that's very near and dear to me, because it's basically shop local," Baker said. "As a former mom and pop business, we know the importance of mom and pop businesses throughout the state and they're being left behind."
Baker is also interested in the role lieutenant governor plays as an advocate for seniors in the Missouri Senate. For 20 years, Baker served on Pacific's Tri County Senior Center board. 10 of those years he served as president.
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When it comes to his campaign, Baker said he has put more than 32,000 miles on his car traveling throughout the state, attending Missouri GOP Lincoln Days events. He also attended the Greene County Republican Women's Republican Candidate Forum in late June.
As of June 27, Baker was endorsed by the Franklin County Central Commission and Freedom Principle MO .
According to the Citizens For Baker July quarterly report, Baker's campaign received $5,585 between April 1 and June 30.
Paul Berry III
Republican Paul Berry III is a St. Louis native who currently lives in Maryland Heights. He is an alumnus of Bakersfield College in Bakersfield, California. Per social media and LinkedIn, Berry's current occupation is unclear and the News-Leader was unsuccessful in connecting with Berry for an interview by press deadline.
According to Ballotpedia , Berry ran for the U.S. House of Representatives to represent the 1st Congressional District of Missouri in 2016, but he was defeated by Republican opponent Steven Bailey in the Republican primary election.
As outlined on his campaign website , Berry's agenda as candidate for lieutenant governor includes championing pro-life and 2nd amendment policies, ensuring election integrity, prioritizing border security, advocating for prison and justice reform, empowering the state's school choice program, creating more Missouri jobs, supporting tax relief for senior citizens and promoting economic growth and lower taxes.
Berry's campaign committee, Berry for MO, did not file April or July quarterly reports and his January quarterly report featured limited activity.
Lincoln Hough
Republican Lincoln Hough is a Springfield native who is currently a Missouri Senator, representing District 30, which encompasses Greene County. He was elected to his position in 2018.
Hough is an alumnus of Missouri State University. Before becoming a state senator, Hough served in the Missouri House of Representatives from 2011-2016 and was later a Greene County Commissioner from 2016-2018.
More: State Sen. Lincoln Hough makes it official – he’s running for Missouri lieutenant governor
The News-Leader was unsuccessful in connecting with Hough by press deadline, but according to his campaign website , Hough's main issues of interest are infrastructure, education, immigration, public safety, pro-life policy and the 2nd amendment.
“In these times of change and challenges, Missouri deserves a leader who listens, understands and acts with an unwavering commitment to the welfare of every citizen,” Hough said previously . “My candidacy is not born out of a desire for political advancement, but from a deep-seated belief in serving the hardworking people of our state, from our cities to our vibrant rural communities.”
Per Hough's official campaign Facebook on July 15, was endorsed by the Missouri Trucking Association , Missouri Fraternal Order of Police , Missouri Chamber of PAC , Missouri Limestone Producers Association , Missouri Cattlemen's Association , Missouri State Troopers' Association , Missouri Farm Bureau PAC , Missouri Association of General Contractors , Missouri Dairy , Professional Firefighters of Independence - IAFF Local 781 and Missouri Soybean Association .
According to the Friends Of Lincoln Hough July quarterly report, Hough's campaign received more than $231,000 between April 1 and June 30. As far as support from Springfield, Hough received monetary support from several Springfield business owners, including John Stack, president of SRC, Melissa Gelner, executive director of Askinoise Chocolate, Brigitte Marrs, executive director of the Mayor's Commission for Children, and Gordan Elliott, a former Springfield councilman and hotel owner.
Matthew Porter
The News-Leader was unsuccessful in connecting with Republican Matthew Porter for an interview by press deadline, but according to a post made on his campaign website on July 5, Porter's campaign was suspended.
"In recent weeks, it has become clear that we no longer have a path to victory," the post made by Porter's family states. "Yet, our journey has not been in vain. We have brought energy to the race, broadened the Republican platform to include often-overlooked voices, and connected with people who found common ground across party lines."
This post was also shared on Porter's official campaign social media accounts.
Holly Rehder
Republican Holly Rehder was born in Memphis, Tennessee, raised in Dallas, Texas and has called southeast Missouri her home for the majority of her adulthood. She is currently a Missouri Senator for District 27, which encompasses Bollinger, Cape Girardeau, Iron, Madison, Perry, Reynolds and Scott counties.
Rehder is an alumna of Southeast Missouri State University in Joplin. Post-graduation, Rehder worked in the media industry, working her way up within the Missouri Cable Association. Her political career began in 2012 when she was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives, representing District 148. She served in this role until 2020.
The News-Leader was unsuccessful in connecting with Rehder by press deadline, but as listed on her campaign website , her main issues of interest in include protecting women's sports, gun rights, pro-life policy, agriculture, the opioid crisis, veterans, education, energy, economy, government accountability and American land.
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Most recently, Rehder helped pass Missouri Senate Bill 781 , more commonly known as "Save Women's Sports Act." The bill, passed in August 2022, states that only biological females may participate in sports designated for women.
Per Rehder's official Facebook Page on July 15, she was endorsed by U.S. Rep. Jason Smith.
According to the Friends Of Holly Rehder July quarterly report, Rehder's campaign received more than $69,800 between April 1 and June 30. As far as support from Springfield, Rehder received monetary support from William and Jenni Cox, CEOs of Solera Energy.
David Wasinger
Republican David Wasinger considers himself a "conservative outsider" who is interested in "shaking things up" in Jefferson City. A Hannibal native, Wasinger now lives and works in St. Louis.
Wasinger is an alumnus of the University of Missouri in Columbia and Vanderbilt Law School in Nashville. Currently, he co-owns Wasinger Daming, LC , a law firm based in St. Louis.
Speaking to the News-Leader, Wasinger said the number one item on his agenda as a candidate is addressing Missouri's "out of control crime." Specifically, he would like to do this by advocating for Missouri police officers.
"In my opinion, we have to be advocates for the police and as an integral part of that, we need to let the police police," Wasinger said. "They can't be walking around on eggshells and afraid to arrest these criminals."
As far as his campaign, Wasinger said he has a "tremendous amount of support" in southwest Missouri. He attended Missouri Right to Life's Springfield Banquet in early June, the Greene County Republican Women's Republican Candidate Forum in late June and Marshfield's 4th of July parade. He's also appeared on Mornings with Nick Reed on 104.1 KSGF.
According to the Wasinger For Missouri July quarterly report, Wasinger's campaign received more than $1.5 million between April 1 and June 30. And when it comes to support from Springfield, Wasinger received monetary support from Doug Russell, president of The Durham Company.
As of July 2, Wasinger was endorsed by Missouri Right to Life and U.S. Rep. Eric Burlison.
Greta Cross is the trending topics reporter for the Springfield News-Leader. She has more than five years of journalism experience covering everything from Ozarks history to Springfield’s LGBTQIA+ community. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretacrossphoto. Story idea? Email her at gcross@news-leader.com .
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: These 8 candidates are running for lieutenant governor in Missouri
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