By Rudi Keller | Deputy Editor
Missouri’s state Senate primaries are a mix of experienced lawmakers and first-time candidates and there are further splits between the candidates with substantial campaign treasuries and those who do not.
In the 10th District of east-central Missouri, for example, a sitting lawmaker and an agriculture group leader endorsed by Gov. Mike Kehoe have both raised large sums, and the attacks are flying.
Meanwhile, accross the state in the 34th District of northwest Missouri a business owner who hasn’t raised much and isn’t willing to put his own money into the race is just trying to get noticed in a contest that also pits two sitting lawmakers against one another.
These stories are part of The Independent’s ongoing coverage of hotly contested primaries around Missouri
State Rep. Tricia Byrnes of Wentzville and Missouri Cattlemen’s Association Executive Vice President Mike Deering of Shamrock are facing off in the Republican primary for Missouri’s 10th Senate District (Byrnes photo by Steph Quinn; Deering photo submitted)
by Steph Quinn
For much of the Republican primary race for Missouri’s 10th District state Senate seat, state Rep. Tricia Byrnes of Wentzville has sought to make the accelerating development of large-scale data centers a decisive campaign issue. But in recent weeks, attacks on Byrnes by backers of Republican primary opponent Mike Deering have turned attention away from issues of land use, state spending and streamlining bureaucracy.
Restaurant and pub owner Ryan Gerster of St. Joseph, state Rep. Sean Pouche of Kansas City and state Rep. Mike Jones of Kansas City are facing off in the 34th District Missouri Senate Republican primary. (Photos provided by Gerster and Tim Bommel/House Communications)
by Annelise Hanshaw
Missouri’s 34th District state Senate seat, encompassing Platte County and much of Buchanan county including the city of St. Joseph, does not have an incumbent running. And the two Republican lawmakers competing to succeed Missouri Senate Majority Leader Tony Luetkemeyer seem to agree on almost everything.
The State Board of Education met for its annual retreat Tuesday, discussing how far its rulemaking authority goes. (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)
by Annelise Hanshaw
Recently appointed members of the Missouri State Board of Education’s probed the board’s power at its annual retreat Tuesday, repeating a discussion from last year’s workshop but with a new tone. Under new leadership, the board is seeing how far its authority reaches, intending to test it through rulemaking.
Healthcare sales tax isn’t off the table in Missouri Amendment 5 proposal | Bram Sable-Smith
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