State Reps. David Casteel and Renee Reuter have each announced they will run for the District 22 state Senate seat in 2026. Current District 22 state Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, who was elected in 2022, announced on Tuesday, March 25, on the “This Week in Missouri Politics” YouTube channel that she would not seek reelection.
State Senate District 22 takes in roughly the northern half of Jefferson County.
Since 2022, Casteel, 41, of High Ridge has been the state representative for District 97, which covers northwest Jefferson County, and he currently is serving his second two-year term after being re-elected in 2024.
“I think there is a position (in the Missouri Senate) to be filled with a local candidate such as myself,” Casteel said. “I have been very active in the House. I was appointed chairman of the commerce committee, thanks to my experience in business. I do run two businesses, and both continue to grow year after year. That experience lends nicely to the legislative role.”
Casteel is the president at C and C Seamless Guttering, the managing partner of the Emrie Group Real Estate and co-founder of GutterPros. He earned a GED from the Missouri Challengers Program in 2004.
Casteel said he believes his experience makes him a good candidate for the state Senate seat.
“I have a lot of relationships established on the Senate side,” he said. “I have a lot of support from the Senate to come over, and I think they would look forward to working with me.”
Also since 2022, Reuter, 55, of Imperial has been the state representative for District 112, which covers northern Jefferson County, and she currently is serving her second two-year term after being re-elected in 2024.
“I think it is natural progression for where I am at now, and I think I can do a lot of good as a senator,” Reuter said. “I would never have run against Mary Elizabeth Coleman. I do support her. If she is not going to be in that seat, why not me?”
Reuter is an attorney and serves as senior intellectual property counsel at the Armstrong Teasdale law firm. She attended Jefferson College from 1987-1988, earned an associate degree in history from Pikes Peak Community College in 1993, a bachelor’s degree in American history and political science from Colorado College in 1995, and a law degree from St. Louis University School of Law in 2002.
Before serving in the Legislature, Reuter served for 12 years on the Jefferson County Council. She was the first chairwoman of the seven-member council and served as either chair or vice chair for seven of her 12 years on the council.
“I’m excited to be on the campaign trail again, and I’m looking forward to meeting as many folks as I can,” Reuter said. “This is a much bigger district than my House district. It encompasses both the County Council district I served in before and the House district that I serve in now and some additional areas. I am looking forward to meeting new people and serving a bigger swatch of Jefferson County.”
Coleman’s term in the state Senate ends in early January 2027.
“It became abundantly clear to me that in time for people to put together a full race, they were going to need time to fundraise,” Coleman said on the “This Week in Missouri Politics” show. “I couldn’t in good conscience continue doing any fundraising since I already decided I’m not going to run for re-election.”
Coleman also said she started informing people of her decision over the spring break. She said she was retiring but did not indicate what she planned to do after her term ends.
She did emphasis that she would complete her term.
“I made a commitment to Jefferson County,” she said. “Jefferson County is home. My kids are the ninth generation in Jefferson County. You’ll still see me at fish fries in the area and doing town halls. We’re going to finish strong.”
Coleman’s announcement comes after she lost the Republican Party primary for secretary of state in August. Before entering that primary race, she initially sought a seat in Congress representing Missouri’s 3rd Congressional District.
Coleman served as a state representative from 2019 to 2023, and she was an Arnold city councilwoman from 2013 to 2015.
“It is a real honor to do one of these jobs,” she said on “This Week in Missouri Politics.” “I served four years in the House. I think eight years is a good amount of time to dedicate to public service. I am happy to kind of be moving on to other things.”
Coleman has been a vocal opponent of abortion during her time in Jefferson City. In 2022, she proposed amendments to numerous House bills that would have allow Missouri residents to sue those who help people seek abortions. The proposals did not advance.
Coleman also drew attention when her husband, Christopher J. Coleman, purchased a home in St. Louis’ Central West End last year. Property records show a trust, owned by Christopher J. Coleman, purchased the house for $1.9 million in June 2024.
Jefferson County property tax records show Coleman and her husband sold their home in the Arnold area in 2024. However, Jefferson County records also show the Colemans paid property tax on four vehicles registered in the county last year.