Republicans

The senior U.S. senator from Missouri is known for his raised fist in solidarity with Trump supporters on January 6, and he was the first Republican senator to object to the 2020 election results. He's also positioned himself as a champion of working class Americans.

As Missouri lawmakers enter the second half of the legislative session, they are considering bills to amend or repeal the voter-approved measure that ended the state’s near-total abortion ban. They also must pass a state budget. Plus: Layoffs and court-ordered rehiring have all but paralyzed the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development agency.

With less Republican infighting and more action so far, this year's Missouri legislative session is already halfway complete. Republicans have already accomplished several of their priorities, including a supplemental budget bill and a plan to take control of St. Louis Police away from the city.

Missouri Republicans are enthusiastic about President Donald Trump’s second term. But they acknowledge that his first months in office haven’t been without hiccups. Plus: A Kansas bill would eliminate state income taxes on tips for workers like food servers.

Missouri Republicans are gearing up for an unusual 2026 election cycle in which state legislative and countywide contests and ballot items could take precedence over statewide races.

The Joint Economic Committee - Minority report released Thursday by Congressional Democrats projects Republican tax cut proposals could mean a one-third cut to Medicaid nationwide. Children, the elderly and rural residents stand to lose the most.

Republican U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall has blamed the turmoil that erupted at a recent town hall meeting in rural Kansas on “paid Democratic operatives.” But the people who attended the meeting say they are just Kansans concerned about funding cuts, layoffs and more.

Jason Kander is a former Missouri Secretary of State and host of the podcast Majority 54. He shared his thoughts on the state of local and national politics, and played along for Up To Date's series "5 Questions."

Senate Floor Leader Tony Luetkemeyer, R-Parkville, said that the legislation permanently barring transgender minors from accessing health care is a priority for the Republican caucus this year.

The Republican senator expects Republicans will work on overhauling the country’s tax code and pare down governmental regulations priorities. He cast doubt that lawmakers will have enough support to curtail abortion access nationwide.

Missouri residents voted to legalize abortion, overturning one of the most restrictive abortion bans in the nation. They also voted to raise the minimum wage and send Josh Hawley back to the U.S. Senate. In Kansas, voters reelected Sharice Davids to the U.S. House. Plus, Kansas City and Johnson County voters made big decisions about their top law enforcement officials.

Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Missouri and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in Kansas (although Johnson County opens an hour earlier!). With the U.S. presidential race at the top of the ticket, and a critical abortion rights amendment plus statewide and congressional races below, it's a stacked election. We break down the races on both sides of the state line.