Missouri Senate

A proposal by Republican state Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman would outlaw the use of restraints on pregnant women in the third trimester, during labor and for the first 48 hours postpartum “except in extraordinary circumstances.” Missouri banned the practice in state prisons in 2018.

Schisms between GOP leadership and more conservative members have been an ongoing storyline in recent legislative history.

Abortion access, taxes and public safety will be priorities when the Missouri General Assembly begins the 2025 legislative session on Jan. 8. The incoming House Minority Leader and Senate Majority Leader, both of whom come from the Kansas City area, discuss their approach to getting bills across the finish line.

Karla Eslinger, an Ozark Republican who served the past four years as a Missouri state senator, passed on a second term. Instead, she began her tenure as commissioner of the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in June.

Incoming Missouri Senate President Pro Tem Cindy O’Laughlin said Missouri’s Children’s Division has failed in its core mission and needs to be restructured to protect vulnerable children.

Whether or not Democrats can deny the GOP its veto-proof majority on Tuesday will come down to a handful of districts across the state, including races in Jackson County and Clay County.

Democrat Patty Lewis and Republican Joey LaSalle are running for Missouri Senate District 7 in western Jackson County. Both candidates joined KCUR's Up To Date to debate who would best represent voters.

Much of midtown, South Kansas City and Grandview have been without a state senator since April. After winning last week's primary, Democratic Missouri Rep. Patty Lewis shares what's next as she heads toward November's election against Republican Joey LaSalle.

Missouri Democrats are hoping that abortion and minimum wage ballot initiatives will help boost the party to its biggest gains of century. How much of a stranglehold the GOP will have in the Senate will be decided in six districts, five of which are in major metro areas.

Incumbent Missouri state Sen. Barbara Washington and Brandon Ellington are facing off in the 2024 Democratic primary for the 9th Senate District. The candidates joined KCUR's Up To Date for a debate on issues facing the Kansas City region and state.

Missouri state Sen. Greg Razer isn't seeking another term, which leaves his Kansas City seat up for grabs. We’ll meet the two Democrats vying to represent the 7th District.

Pat Contreras and Patty Lewis are facing off in the 2024 Democratic primary for Missouri's 7th Senate District. The candidates joined KCUR's Up To Date for a debate and to discuss what issues are facing the district.