Missouri Senate

The Democrat running for Missouri's District 8 is willing to work across the aisle with those "who truly want to represent the people."

Starting this weekend, Missouri voters will need to present a government-issued photo ID when casting their ballots. But voting rights groups have filed lawsuits claiming the law is unconstitutional.

Originally founded in 2018, the group has been involved in an escalating war with Republican leadership, using parliamentary maneuvers to gum up the Senate and push controversial amendments pertaining to transgender student athletes and vaccine mandates.

The victories likely mean the caucus — which has quarreled with GOP leadership and used procedural roadblocks to grind the chamber to a halt — will grow from seven official members last year to potentially nine in 2023.

Kansans went to the polls on Tuesday to decide who will advance to the general election in several key races. They also weighed in on whether the state constitution includes the right to an abortion.

Republicans have gotten most of the attention in the U.S. Senate primary in Missouri, but August 2 also has a competitive Democratic primary too. Plus, one candidate hopes he will become one of the few elected Hispanic officials in Jackson County.

Filed by attorney Chuck Hatfield on behalf of three plaintiffs, the lawsuit names the Judicial Redistricting Commission and Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft as defendants. The commission created the map and Ashcroft implemented it for this year’s elections.

Abortion has emerged as a big topic on the campaign trail for the seven Republican candidates vying for Missouri's 4th district congressional seat, which is being vacated by Rep. Vicky Hartzler. Plus, antique toys could put children at risk of lead poisoning.

Incumbent Missouri Sen. Mike Cierpiot is facing primary challengers from the right, who criticize him for being "worst Republican in our area." But his campaign priorities tend to line up even with his opponents.

There are 21 Republicans seeking to succeed Missouri's Sen. Roy Blunt, but much of the focus in the Republican primary is revolving around former Gov. Eric Greitens. Plus, Kansas will be the first state in the country to vote on whether to protect abortion rights after Roe v. Wade, but the stakes are also high for people living in neighboring Missouri.

John Wood, former federal prosecutor and senior investigative counsel to the January 6 Committee, said the divisive politics shaping up in Missouri's U.S. Senate primaries prompted him to run as a mainstream independent candidate.

The endorsements from Missouri Right to Life signal the rising stakes of the upcoming Senate primaries which have the potential to reshape the make-up of the chamber that has been dogged by bitter GOP infighting.