Republican competitions have already formed for the Aug. 7 primary election for the state representative seat currently held by Steve Cookson, as well as Butler County treasurer.
Filing started today for county, legislative and judicial candidates.
Nearly a dozen Republican candidates for Butler County offices had filed by 9:30 a.m.
Filing ends at 5 p.m. March 27.
Winners of the primary will move forward to the Nov. 6 general election.
Jack Johnson of Gatewood filed at 8:36 a.m. today in Jefferson City for state representative District 153, held by Cookson. Jeff Shawan of Poplar Bluff filed at 9:09 a.m., according to the Missouri Secretary of State's office.
Filing order determines ballot order.
Both Cookson and Speaker of the House Todd Richardson of District 152 are prevented by term limits from running again.
Hardy Billington of Poplar Bluff filed at 8:57 a.m. on the Republican ticket for Richardson's seat. This district includes Butler County and portions of Dunklin County.
Cookson's district includes Carter and Ripley counties, and portions of Butler and Wayne counties.
Two candidates have also filed for the U.S. representative District 8 seat currently held by Jason Smith. They are Democrat Kathy Ellis of Festus and Libertarian Jonathan Shell of Fredericktown.
Butler County voters will also elect presiding commissioner, prosecutor, two associate circuit judges, county and circuit court clerks, recorder of deeds, treasurer and collector locally.
All candidates who have filed as of this morning for Butler County offices are Republicans.
Tammy Marler is the only candidate for treasurer who had completed all of the paperwork necessary to file as of 10 a.m. Dan Conover and Dennis Shearrer had also submitted a portion of the paperwork necessary to file, said county clerk Tonyi Deffendall. Filing for Conover and Shearrer will not be official until the paperwork is complete.
Treasurer Joe Humphrey, Division II Associate Circuit Judge John Bloodworth and prosecutor Kevin Barbour are not seeking re-election.
Assistant prosecutor Paul Oesterreicher has filed for prosecutor.
Attorney C. Wade Pierce has filed for the Division II judge position.
The following current office holders have filed for re-election: presiding commissioner Vince Lampe; county clerk Tonyi Deffendall; circuit clerk Cindi Bowman; recorder Debby Lundstrom; collector Emily Clark-Parks; Division III associate circuit judge John Shock.