Chris Grahn-Howard has announced he will seek the Republican nomination for Jefferson County executive in 2026.
Grahn-Howard, 59, of Cedar Hill is the St. Louis County Council’s budget policy coordinator.
Jefferson County Executive Dennis Gannon announced in late 2024 that he will not seek reelection in 2026 and his final day in office will be Dec. 31, 2026. Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Col. Tim Whitney, the undersheriff and chief financial officer, announced last year that he will seek the Republican nomination for county executive in 2026.
The 2026 primary election will be on Aug. 4, and the 2026 general election will be held on Nov. 3. Filing for the Aug. 4 primary election runs from Feb. 24, 2026, through March 31, 2026.
The county executive’s annual salary is $124,971.
Howard said he will center his campaign on government transparency, economic development and preserving the county’s rural areas, adding that his work in St. Louis County and state government will help him oversee Jefferson County’s growth.
“I’ve got a lot of hands-on experience behind the scenes of what goes on at a local county government,” Grahn-Howard said. “I have had the opportunity to learn from a plethora of mistakes made by St. Louis County on what not to do, and what I don’t want to happen here in Jefferson County.”
Grahn-Howard said Jefferson County is “seriously riding behind” other counties in terms of growth and needs to find a better balance between maintaining its rural feel and increasing economic growth. He said he believes, with responsible planning and development, Jefferson County can catch up.
He noted that the county is pro-labor, and the Jefferson County Port in Herculaneum could provide union jobs for at least the next 10-15 years. The Jefferson County Port Authority, along with the city of Herculaneum, is working to improve transportation connections from I-55 to the port, providing opportunities for larger ships with heavier loads to dock at the port.
“The (proposed Jefferson County master plan) tells us that 67 percent of the people who live in Jefferson County work in St. Louis County, and I’m one of them,” Grahn-Howard said. “That’s not exactly a recipe for long-term economic success for the people who live here. At the end of the day, Jefferson County is dependent upon the economy of St. Louis County and St. Louis city for survival, and we have to take control of our own destiny.”
Transplant
Grahn-Howard said he grew up in Chicago, Ill., and lived in Memphis, Tenn., Columbia and Ballwin before moving to Cedar Hill a few years ago. He and his wife, Becky, have two adult children, Heather and Marshall.
“A lot of times people move to areas and then they try to make that area like where they came from, but I like my quiet little subdivision nestled in between a couple of hills with lots of trees around it,” Grahn-Howard said. “I am very much in favor of planned growth, at the same time balancing that against maintaining the beauty of what we have here.”
Before working with the St. Louis County Council, Grahn-Howard said he worked as a deputy legislative director for former House of Representatives member and Speaker of the House Tim Jones, a Republican.
Grahn-Howard said he hopes to leverage the connections he maintains from his time working in state and county governments if he is elected county executive.
“With over a decade of experience in state and county government, I envision a better future for Jefferson County,” Grahn-Howard said in a June 22 written statement announcing his candidacy. “Balancing economic growth with historical preservation may seem simple, but it is far from easy. Experience is required to navigate this path successfully.
“I have a clear vision of what is possible, and with proper planning, I believe we can achieve great success together.”