Republican Bob Onder, Democrat Bethany E. Mann, Libertarian Jordan Rowden and Green Party candidate William Hastings are running on Nov. 5 for the District 3 seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. The seat is currently held by Blaine Luetkemeyer, who is not seeking re-election.
The district, which was redrawn following the 2020 federal Census, now includes the western half of Jefferson County and all or parts of Boone, Callaway, Camden, Cole, Cooper, Gasconade, Maries, Miller, Montgomery, Moniteau, Osage, St. Charles, Warren and Washington counties.
The term is for two years. U.S. representatives are paid $174,000 per year.
Hastings did not return a Leader survey.
Onder, 62, of St. Charles is a retired physician. He earned his medical degree at Washington University and his juris doctor degree at St. Louis University. He is married to Allison and has six children.
Mann, 41, of St. Peters is an Ion Chromatography representative for Metrohm USA. She has a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Illinois-Springfield and an associate degree in prepharmacy from Lincoln Land University. She is married to Carson and has three children.
Rowden, 35, of Vienna is self-employed. He worked three years doing inner-city ministry work and has done online sales and gig work for the past five years. He has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Columbia College.
What experience do you have (elected office, civic organization membership, volunteer work, etc.) that might serve you well in this position?
Onder: Missouri state Senate, 2015-2023 and Missouri House, 2007-2008.
Mann: I can solve complex problems and explain the value of solutions to everyone involved and make a plan work successfully. I am on the executive board of the Kansas Laboratory Education Association, which means I am already forming multi-state coalitions to educate and improve lab and infrastructure practices in the Midwest. I am the vice chair of the Missouri Democrats LGBTQIA+ caucus, so I support fighting for the rights and freedoms of all Americans.
Rowden: I was sent by my church as an inner-city missionary and was held accountable for how I spent the donated money and my time serving. I can be trusted to have those who might send me to Washington to be honest and trustworthy and not just take the position for my own benefit.
What specific needs exist in your district, and how would you address them?
Onder: Ensure safety and security by closing the border; renew 2017 Trump tax cuts; eliminate U.S. Dept of Education and indoctrination and woke mandates.
Mann: I will upgrade water infrastructure so our water is clean. This will improve public health, create high-paying union jobs and attract semiconductor and battery manufacturers that rely on clean water.
Students should be fully supported from pre-kindergarten to secondary in equitably funded public schools. I will address the cost of child care for working families, champion universal pre-kindergarten and pass a permanent extension of the Child Tax Credit.
Health care access should be expanded and made more affordable, with proper reimbursements for providers to keep rural hospitals open. I trust Americans to make medical decisions without government interference.
Rowden: The biggest need that most of us face right now is inflation and the devaluing of the dollar. Inflation is caused by government spending and federal monetary policies. To fix those, I would never vote for a budget that isn’t at the very least balanced and would support ending the federal reserve and returning to sound money.
What steps should the U.S. government take to address concerns about immigration and border security?
Onder: Reinstate Trump immigration policies; close the border and build a border wall; end amnesty and chain migration; deport illegal aliens.
Mann: We must deal with the immigration crisis with empathy and upgrades in technology. I support bipartisan efforts to upgrade technology infrastructure so families can legally enter the U.S. and work and contribute to our economy without compromising national security. Farmers and infrastructure projects need reliable labor, so revising the visa process will help us rebuild here and offer a clear pathway to citizenship for families in search of a better life. Customs and border control agents should have tools that can quickly scan and determine the contents of packages and shipments to stop the flow of illegal drugs like fentanyl.
Rowden: I support an Ellis Island type immigration system, one where if someone wants to come and be a productive member of society, he or she can come through ports of entry and get a background check and a work visa. If they don’t break any laws, they can keep the visa and apply for citizenship after three to five years of proof they are not a hazard to society.
What steps should the government take to address concerns about the economy?
Onder: Renew 2017 Trump tax cuts; drill for domestic affordable energy; reduce regulatory burden.
Mann: Corporate greed plays a major role in the struggles that working families face from high food and energy prices to low wages. I will strengthen anti-trust laws, enhance the power of the National Labor Relations Board and pass the ProAct so everyone has the right to collectively bargain for higher wages, paid family leave and secure benefits. I will secure our supply chain by making more in America to lower costs on products like formula and diapers for families. I will advocate for manufacturing that uses responsible environmental practices and update our energy infrastructure.
Rowden: The reason the economy is so bad is current deficit spending and federal monetary policies. The government needs to end deficit spending and work to reduce our national debt, which is $35-plus trillion. I would also (vote) to deregulate and to eliminate as many government agencies as possible and let states function how they wish. I believe in decentralization and the best example of that right now is Javier Milei in Argentina.
Why should voters elect you to this position? List your goals, if elected.
Onder: I am the conservative in this race. I was a Trump delegate in 2016, a Trump alternate in 2020, and a Trump surrogate in Iowa in 2024. I’m the only candidate endorsed by Missouri Right to Life.
Mann: I am qualified to serve in Congress because of my experience in agriculture, manufacturing, and water and energy infrastructure. As a mom of three, I understand the challenges that working families face, including the devastating financial and emotional consequences of intrusive reproductive health care bans. My priorities will be to improve water infrastructure using some of the billions of federal dollars set aside for water cleanup and remediation in Weldon Spring, around firehouses and schools. I will expand health care access, keeping our rural hospitals open and ready to treat emerging health issues like Alpha Gal Syndrome.
Rowden: If voters want real limited government, then I am their candidate. I am honest and trustworthy and believe in the smallest amount of government possible. I would decentralize everything and let the people of Missouri’ 3rd district live their lives as they see fit and not having the government interfere in every aspect of their lives. These are not just campaign promises, but my actual principles I believe in and will stand on.