State Rep. Ken Waller, 63, of Herculaneum announced today, July 31, that he will join the race for the District 22 state Senate seat in 2026.
Current District 22 state Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, who was elected in 2022, announced on March 25 that she would not seek reelection. In March, state representatives David Casteel and Renee Reuter announced their intentions to run for the seat. According to The Missouri Times, Jim Avery, a former state representative for District 95 from 2002-2008 also has announced his campaign.
David Robertson of High Ridge announced his intention to run for the seat but later announced that he would instead seek the state House of Representatives District 97 seat.
Senate District 22 takes in roughly the northern half of Jefferson County. Candidates for the August 2026 primary election may begin filing to run on Feb. 24, 2026. The last day to file will be March 31, 2026, according to the Jefferson County Election Authority Office.
Waller, Casteel and Reuter are all Republicans. Coleman is also a Republican.
Waller has been the state representative for District 114 since 2022. He is finishing his second term after being reelected in 2024. In addition to his legislative duties, he is an insurance agent.
Waller, a lifelong Jefferson County resident, said he brings two decades of public service experience and a steadfast commitment to conservative principles to the campaign.
“Like Liam Neeson said, ‘I have a very particular set of skills’ – skills I’ve acquired over a long career serving Jefferson County,” Waller said. “From my time as county treasurer to county executive, election clerk, and now state representative, each role has taught me how to make government more effective and responsive to our residents. I’m ready to bring that experience to the state Senate to move Jefferson County forward.”
Waller, a 1980 Festus High School graduate, earned an associate degree in business administration from Jefferson College in 1982 and a bachelor’s degree in public administration from the University of Missouri-St. Louis in 1985.
He was elected in 2004 as the Jefferson County treasurer, followed by an election in 2010 as the county’s first-ever county executive under the new charter government. In 2018, he was elected as the Jefferson County Clerk, the office that handles elections.
In the Missouri House, Waller serves as chairperson of the Pensions Committee and vice chairperson of the Elections Committee. He also is a member of the Transportation Committee and the Insurance Committee.
He said his legislative work emphasizes practical solutions, particularly in strengthening election security and supporting policies that benefit working families.
“I’m immensely proud of my record,” Waller said. “My success comes from listening to the people of Jefferson County and addressing their concerns with clear, common-sense solutions.”
He said his campaign for state Senate will be built on conservative principles: protecting Second Amendment rights, opposing abortion, safeguarding parental rights and ensuring corporate interests don’t outweigh those of working men and women.
“These are non-negotiable,” Waller stated. “For 20 years, across four different offices, I’ve never wavered in my commitment to these values.”
Waller said he aims to be a unifying voice in the state Senate.
“Too often we see passion divide our own team when we should be united against the progressive left,” he said. “I want to restore calm and civility to our discourse, mentor younger leaders and keep us focused on what matters most to Missourians.”
Waller is married to Trina. They have three children and one grandchild. Waller is a member of Grace Life Chapel in Pevely.