Only three state races had competition locally in the Aug. 7 primary election when filing closed Tuesday in Missouri.
More than 20 candidates are seeking for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Democrat Claire McCaskill.
Three individuals each have filed for the District 153 seat currently held by Rep. Steve Cookson (R-Poplar Bluff) and the District 144 seat held by Rep. Chris Dinkins (R-Annapolis).
Missouri is holding elections for U.S. Senate, eight U.S. representatives, state auditor, 17 even numbered state senate districts and 163 state representatives, in addition to county positions.
The primary will determine which candidates move on to the Nov. 6 general election.
General election contests have also developed for McCaskill's seat and the District 8 seat of U.S. Rep. Jason Smith, as well as four state representative positions locally. Districts 150, 151, 152 and 153 include portions of Butler, Dunklin, Stoddard Pemiscot and Scott counties.
Primary competitions
With Cookson prevented from running again by term limits, two Republican candidates and one Democrat are seeking his seat.
Jack (Skip) Johnson of Gatewood and Jeff Shawan of Poplar Bluff will seek the Republican nomination in August and face Democrat Matt Michel of Fairdealing in November.
The District 153 seat includes portions of Ripley, Wayne, Butler and Carter counties.
Dinkins is seeking re-election to the District 144 seat against two Republican candidates, Scotty Schrum of Potosi and Beau McCoy Gooch of Piedmont.
District 144 includes portions of Wayne, Reynolds, Iron and Washington counties.
McCaskill is seeking re-election against six other Democrat candidates in the primary. Nearly a dozen Republican candidates have also filed for the U.S. Senate seat, along with Libertarian Japheth Campbell of Springfield, and Green party candidates Jo Crain of Kansas City and Jerome Bauer of St. Louis.
Republic candidates include Tony Monetti of Warrensburg; Austin Petersen of Peculiar; Josh Hawley of Columbia; Fred Ryman of Jefferson City; Christina Smith of Jefferson City; Kristi Nichols of Independence; Bradley Krembs of St. Charles; Ken Patterson of Eureka; Brian G. Hagg of Aurora; Courtland Sykes of Independence; and Peter Pfeifer of Ballwin.
Democratic candidates are: Carla (Coffee) Wright of St. Louis; Angelica Earl of St. Louis; and Leonard Joseph Steinman II of Jefferson City.
General election
competitions
Smith's seat in District 8 will only have a competition in the general election. Smith is seeking re-election and Democrat Kathy Ellis of Festus and Libertarian Jonathan Shell of Fredericktown have also filed.
In addition to Cookson's seat in District 153 and McCaskill's U.S. Senate seat, there will also be races in November for the seat currently held by Speaker of the House Todd Richardson in District 152, incumbent Andrew McDaniel of District 150 and incumbent Herman Morse of District 151.
District 152
Includes: portions of Butler and Dunklin counties
Hardy Billington of Poplar Bluff faces Democrat Robert L. Smith of Poplar Bluff.
District 151
Includes: Stoddard and Scott counties
Morse of Dexter faces Libertarian Rick Vandeven of Chaffee and Democrat J.T. (Jerry) Howard.
District 150
Includes: portions of Dunklin and Pemiscot counties
McDaniel of Deering faces Democrat Josh Rittenberry of Caruthersville.