District 8 U.S. Rep. Jason Smith will be challenged by Democrat Chris Reichard and Libertarian Rebecca Sharpe Lombard in the Nov. 3 general election.
The district covers the eastern half of Jefferson County and southeast Missouri, including the Bootheel and west near Branson.
Smith, a Republican, has held the seat since 2013 after he won a special election to fill a vacancy created when Jo Ann Emerson resigned.
U.S. representatives receive an annual salary of approximately $174,000 and serve a two-year term.
Smith and Lombard did not return a Leader survey.
Reichard, 41, of Arnold is a communications journeyman technician in IBEW Local 1, where he’s been a member for 10 years. He served in the Army from 2004-2012, receiving training as a multi-channel transmission systems operator-maintainer and a signal support systems specialist, along with taking a Warrior Leader Course, equivalent to management training. He is married to Ariel.
Why should voters elect you, and what are your goals if elected?
Reichard: I am not a corporate-owned career politician — but I am a veteran who deployed during Operation Iraqi Freedom and a blue-collar worker looking to fight for us, the working class. After traveling the district and finding out the concerns of the people, I searched through the 15,000-plus stalled bills in Congress and found over 200 to support and reintroduce on day one. The goal is to create vehicle packages to get these bills across the finish line.
What’s the biggest threat to Social Security and Medicare, and how do you believe that threat should be addressed?
Reichard: Our greatest threat is the current leadership who have passed or proposed cuts to Social Security and Medicare/Medicaid. Reversing cuts made by the One Big Beautiful Bill (co-authored by Jason Smith) is key. Passing Medicare-for-All would be dream legislation, but there are several stepping-stone bills that can help ease us there. As far as Supplemental Security Income, I propose that we remove the tax cap for income over $184,500. Income for the rich and wealthy should not be let off the hook.
What strategies would you use to improve communication between your office and the district which you serve?
Reichard: The main difference in communication between the incumbent and me is that I plan to return to the district with free town halls. The people have a right to see their elected leaders.
How would you assess the nation’s election system?
Reichard: We have free and fair elections that have been unjustly attacked in recent years. I do believe we would be served better with a ranked-choice system to get a better representation of the people outside of the two-party system, and I would support an amendment to abolish the Electoral College.
