Candidate filing for the Aug. 4 primary election began Feb. 24 and continues through March 31 for state and congressional races in Missouri with many contested races already developing in Jefferson County.
Jefferson County voters will be selecting candidates for state Senate, state House, circuit judge and Congress.
State Senate
A race for one state Senate district will be on the Aug. 4 Jefferson County primary ballot. The winners of the Republican and Democratic primaries will advance to the Nov. 3 general election.
State senators are elected to four-year terms and are paid $41,390 annually.
District 22
Two candidates have filed for the state Senate District 22 seat that will be left vacant by incumbent Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, who has said she will not seek reelection. District 22 covers the northern and eastern portions of Jefferson County, including Arnold, Imperial, High Ridge, Byrnes Mill, Pevely, Herculaneum, Crystal City and Festus.
Jim Avery of Dittmer filed as a Republican candidate. Avery previously served as a state representative for south St. Louis County.
Jeff Abney of Barnhart filed as a Democrat.
State House
Several races already have formed for the state House seats in the Leader’s readership area.
The winners of the Republican and Democratic primaries will advance to the Nov. 3 general election.
State representatives are elected to two-year terms and are paid $41,315 annually.
District 114
Three Republicans have filed for the District 114 seat, which was left vacant after the death of state Rep. Ken Waller in August. District 114 includes the southeastern part of Jefferson County.
The three Republicans seeking the seat are: former state Rep. David Broach of Hillsboro, Ann Moloney of Barnhart and John Jay Lee of Festus.
No Democrat has filed for the seat.
District 115
Only Republican incumbent Bill Lucas of De Soto filed for the District 115 seat. District 115 covers parts of Festus, Hillsboro, De Soto, Valles Mines and Dittmer in Jefferson County.
Lucas was first elected in 2024.
No Democrat has filed for the seat.
Circuit judge
In Circuit 23, which covers Jefferson County, only one circuit judge position is up for election. A circuit judge is elected to six-year terms and is paid $180,602.
Divison 2
Only the incumbent, Edward Page of Festus, has filed for the Division 2 seat. Edwards, who filed as a Republican, was appointed to the circuit judge position in 2022 after serving as an associate judge since 2018.
No Democrat has filed for the seat.
Congressional races
Several people have filed for U.S. representative races in the readership area.
But uncertainty surrounds Missouri’s 2025 congressional map because the Legislature redrew the map mid-decade; the map is now facing multiple lawsuits and a potential voter referendum.
A congressman is elected to two-year terms and is paid $174,000 a year.
District 2
Seven candidates, including incumbent Congresswoman Ann Wagner, have filed for the seat in the 2nd Congressional District.
The 2nd District covers part of Jefferson County, including Arnold, and suburbs south and west of St. Louis, including Wildwood.
Wagner, a Republican, of Ballwin is seeking her eighth term as congresswoman. Also filing as Republicans were: Peter Pfeifer of Chesterfield and Brandon Wilkinson of Cedar Hill.
Filing as Democrats were: Dr. Timothy Bilash of St. Louis, Nick Vivio of Maryland Heights, Joan VonDras of Chesterfield and Fred Wellman of Ballwin.
District 3
Five candidates, including incumbent Congressman Bob Onder, have filed for the 3rd District congressional seat.
The 3rd District covers the central and eastern portion of the state, including western Jefferson County.
Filing as Republicans were: Onder of St. Charles, who is seeking his second term; and John Fraser of Columbia.
Filing as Democrats were: Bethany Mann of St. Peters; Paul Wilson of St. Charles; and Mike Conner of Auxvasse.
District 8
Three candidates, including incumbent Jason Smith, filed for the 8th Congressional District.
Smith of Cape Girardeau, who first was elected in 2013, filed as a Republican.
The 8th District covers the southern part of the state, including eastern Jefferson County.
Filing as Democrats were: Chris Reichard of Arnold, Clayton Christopher Harbison of Arcadia and Frank Barnitz of Lake Springs.
