Twelve candidates vying to become the next Missouri Secretary of State

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.- On August 6th, 12 candidates will be in the race to become Missouri’s next secretary of state.

Eight Republicans, three Democrats and a Libertarian are all looking to have their name on the ticket to replace Jay Ashcroft as secretary of state in November. But what does this position truly entail?

Dr. Daniel Ponder is a Meador Professor of political science at Drury University. He says that since the office of secretary of state oversees many things, finding the right fit is important.

“So much of what we’re talking about is our elections, election integrity and things like that have become very important,” said Ponder.

One of the candidates for the office is Greene County clerk Shane Schoeller.

He was brought on as clerk in 2014 and after a decade in the role, he hopes to get enough votes to receive the GOP nomination. Before becoming the Greene County clerk, Schoeller served in the Missouri House of Representatives from 2007 to 2012.

Other Republican candidates include House speaker Dean Plocher, who originally ran for Lt. Governor but dropped his bid, state senators Mary Elizabeth Coleman and Denny Hoskins, Wentzville municipal judge Mike Carter, State representative Adam Schwadron, St. Louis County resident Jamie Corley and St. Louis resident Valentina Gomez, who sparked media attention earlier this year with controversial social media posts.

“We’ve seen over the last several years that lots of, you know, sort of the increasing nationalization of politics, even at the state level,” Ponder said.

On the Democratic side, representatives Barbara Phifer, Haley Jacobson, and Monique Williams are looking for the ticket, with Phifer being the most well-known.

Phifer is a former pastor and has been serving in the Missouri House since 2021.

Jacobson is a St. Louis native and businessperson with a background in nursing and linguistics.

Williams is also a St. Louis native who worked as an accountant and auditor for both the state and city of St. Louis.

All three candidates are choosing to focus on safer elections, business education and support, and keeping public libraries accessible.

The last name on the ballot looking for success is Libertarian Carl Herman Freese, who has run in previous elections for secretary of state but has come up short.

Ponder also said that winning a state office could also be used as a stepping stone to grow political careers.

“It is elected statewide just like anything else. So many people have gone on from secretary of state to go on and be, for example, governor. You know, Matt Blunt, for example, of course, Ashcroft’s trying to do the same thing. So, yeah, it is very much a stepping stone for a lot of people,” Ponder said.

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