Voter guide for Aug. 6, 2024: Missouri Primary Election (2024)

The Missouri primary election is set for Tuesday, Aug. 6.

The primary election has many candidates seeking their party's nomination for the November election.

How to vote in Missouri

Mail-in voting began on June 25. No-excuse in-person absentee voting began on July 23. The last day to request an absentee ballot was July 24.

Polls will be open for in-person voting from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day, Aug. 6.

You must have avalid photo identificationto vote in Missouri.If you’re a registered voter but don’t bring a photo ID with you, you may cast a provisional ballot instead. Provisional ballots will be only counted if you return later that day with an ID or if election officials verify your signature.

Details on all primary races can be found on Vote411.org.

Election results

Missouri precincts will begin reporting results after polls close at 7 p.m. For live election results, clickhere.

Race for MO Governor Watch the debates

Republican primary race for governor

Gov. Mike Parson is not running again, creating an opening for multiple Missouri Republicans to throw their hat in the ring. Three main candidates have emerged, hoping to be the GOP candidate on November's ballot. All candidates are listed in the order they will appear on the ballot.

Jay Ashcroft -Ashcroft is currently serving as Missouri's 40th secretary of state. He has told voters he knows how to "fix things" because he's an engineer, despite never being licensed as one. Ashcroft says he is running on the idea that he can improve the state. He proposed a zero-based budget to end expansive state spending.

Mike Kehoe - Currently serving as the lieutenant governor, Kehoe has been in Missouri politics since 2011. He served in the Missouri Senate for two terms. Kehoe was elected as Majority Leader in 2015 and continued in that role until Governor Mike Parson appointed him to be lieutenant governor in 2018. On the campaign trail, Kehoe has touted his experience while also pointing back to his roots as a business owner.

Find out more about all candidates running in the Republican primary race for governor at Vote411.org.

Democratic primary race for governor

2017 was the last time Missouri had a Democratic governor. With Parson ending his term this election season, two Democrats see an opening to flip the governor's office from red to blue. All candidates are listed in the order they will appear on the ballot.

Crystal Quade - The Springfield, Missouri, native has served in the Missouri State House since 2017. She was first elected in 2016 and was named minority leader in 2018. Her campaign highlights her as a "new kind of leader" who wants to restore abortion rights and support Missouri farmers.

Mike Hamra - The multimillionaire fast food franchise owner is running for public office for the first time. He now operates his father's Springfield-based business, Hamra Enterprises. In late July, he released his policy agenda, which he says will create an "economy for everyone."

Our full debate between the Democratic candidates:

Find out more about all candidates running in the Democratic Primary Race for Governor at Vote411.org.

Secretary of State Learn more about the Republicans and Democrats running

Republican secretary of state primary

In a crowded race, eight Republicans are running for the chance to be Missouri's top elections officer. All candidates are listed in the order they will appear on the ballot. Our partners at the Missouri Independent have some extensive reporting on this race.

Valentina Gomez - The first-time candidate has made headlines through viral social media posts. According to her campaign, she hopes to "revamp and modernize" the Secretary of State's Office while also planning to remove electronic voting machines and transition to hand-counting ballots.

Shane Schoeller - Currently serving as the Greene County clerk, he also served as a Missouri state representative from 2007 to 2013. His campaign said he is running as someone who knows how to address concerns on the integrity of elections.

Denny Hoskins -Currently a state senator for the 21st District, he previously served as a state representative from 2009 to 2017. Some of thekey issues in his campaign include: protecting the unborn, defending election security and standing against the woke agenda.

Adam J. Schwadron - Currently serving his second term as state representative. He says election security is his primary legislative focus. His campaign said if elected, he will "keep the federal government out of Missouri's elections."

Jamie Corley - A former GOP Congressional staffer. She also was behind a now-abandoned campaign to legalize abortion in Missouri. Unlike many of her opponents, she does not want to make it harder to change the state's constitution. In fact, she says her experience filing initiative petitions is what informed her decision to run for secretary of state.

Dean Plocher - Currently serving as the Missouri speaker of the house. He was elected as a state representative in 2015. Plocher's campaign priorities include election security, deportation enforcement in Missouri, and cutting taxes. Over the last year, Plocher has been involved in a House ethics investigation after being accused of ethical misconduct. The House dropped the investigation in April. He droppedhis bid for lieutenant governor in March.

Mike Carter - Currently serving as a municipal judge in Wentzville and host of "Justice and Journalism," a local television program, he has interviewed many of the candidates running in different primary elections.

Democratic secretary of state primary

Monique Williams - Served as a canvasser for the Democratic party and advocated for the “Property Tax Freeze for Senior Citizens,” which was signed into law by Gov. Parson.

Barbara Phifer -Elected in 2020, she is currently serving as a state representative. Her campaign said, if elected, she will ensure elections are well-run and accessible. She also wants to advocate for public libraries andsaid Missouri is "open for business."

Haley Jacobson -Former nurse and first responder from St. Louis.

Find out more about all candidates running at Vote411.org.

Attorney General Learn more about the candidates

Republican primary for attorney general

The race to be Missouri's top lawyer is becoming a race to identify which Republican is "more MAGA" than the other. Both candidates align themselves staunchly behind Trump, running ads saying they are the true "Trump Republican." All candidates are listed in the order they will appear on the ballot.

Will Scharf -A critic of current Attorney General Andrew Bailey, Scharf is one of former President Trump's personal attorneys. Running as what he calls a "warrior for the conservative movement,"Scharf previously served as a violent crime prosecutor. He does say once elected he would sue Planned Parenthood and supports restrictions on Mifepristone, the common abortion pill used during the first 11 weeks of a pregnancy.

Andrew Bailey - Currently serving as Missouri attorney general, Bailey was appointed to the position by Gov. Parson when Eric Schmitt was elected as a U.S. senator. In the 18 months he's held the position, Bailey has sued the federal government, launched investigations into health care facilities and fought with other Republicans. He is seeking a full term as Missouri's top lawyer and describes himself as a conservative "who fights for the people of Missouri."

We have reached out to Bailey asking for an interview, but we have not heard back.

Find out more about all candidates running at Vote411.org.

MO-1 House of Representatives Candidates running in the Democratic primary

MO-1 representative Democratic primary

The race to become the Democratic nominee for U.S. House District 1 will likely determine who is sent to Washington D.C. Incumbent Cori Bush won almost 73% of the vote in 2022. Bush won the seat from longtime Congressman Lacy Clay in 2020 and handily defeated Sen. Steve Roberts in 2022's Democratic Primary. She now faces two challengers in 2024. All candidates are listed in the order they will appear on the ballot.

Cori Bush -As the incumbent, Bush is running for her third term in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Black Lives Matter activist has made a name for herself as a member of the 'Squad' in the House of Representatives. Since the war in Israel broke out, Bush has been critical of Israel and actively supportive of Pro-Palestinian actions. She's also been vocally supportive of victims impacted by radioactive exposure in the St. Louis area. She has come under fire by her main opponent for claims she's made saying, while in office, she brought $2 billion back to St. Louis.

We have reached out to Bush asking for an interview multiple times, but she has declined.

Wesley Bell -Currently serving as the St. Louis County prosecutor, Bell officially planned to run in the Democratic Primary for U.S. senator after he said he received calls from the party to challenge Bush. He described himself as a reasonable peacemaker, highlighting his work "running the largest prosecuting attorney's office in Missouri." He also served as a city councilman in Ferguson following the unrest after the killing of Michael Brown. He is backed by AIPAC, a pro-Israel group, which has drawn a lot of backlash from his opponent and more progressive members of the Democratic party.

Maria N. Chappelle-Nadal - The former Missouri state legislator jumped into the race after Wesley Bell. A vocal critic of the St. Louis County prosecutor, she blames Bell forthe death of her niece, criticizing how his office handled a case the suspected shooter in that case. Chappelle-Nadal has made the news in the past for makingcontroversial statements online.

Find out more about all candidates running at Vote411.org.

More races Find more information about the statewide races

Primary races are happening statewide as well. We've made a list of a few other races impacting the St. Louis area. All candidates are listed in the order they will appear on the ballot.

Democratic primary for U.S. senator

Karla May - She has served in the Missouri House for eight years. Hercampaign describes her as a "long-standing champion for the rights and welfare of the citizens of Missouri."

Lucas Kunce - The Marine veteran announced his candidacy on the anniversary of the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. The Jefferson City native said he is running for office to support working-class Missourians. Some key goals of his campaign include increasing teacher pay and "holding corrupt politicians accountable."He previously ran for Senate in 2022 but lost the Missouri primary to Trudy Busch Valentine.

Find out more about all candidates running at Vote411.org.U.S. Senator Josh Hawley is the incumbent and is the sole candidate on the ballot for the Republicans.

Republican primary for lieutenant governor

Five candidates are vying for the chance to be the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor in Missouri. Whoever wins the race in November will be next in line for governor. The job itself includes breaking ties in the Missouri Senate. All candidates are listed in the order they will appear on the ballot.

Our partners at the Missouri Independent have some extensive reporting on this race.

Holly Rehder -Currently serving in the Missouri Senate, she previously served in the House of Representatives for eight years. During her time as a legislator, she has co-sponsored and advocated foranti-transgender legislation. She also sponsored legislation this year to ban child marriage. If elected, she says she wants to make a "larger impact on people’s lives than she can as a senator."

Dave Wasinger -A current St. Louis attorney, Wasinger previously ran for state auditor but lost in the primary. Following the 2008 financial crisis, Wasinger represented whistleblowers in cases against Countrywide Home Loans and JP Morgan Chase. He says he wants to take on the "insider deals taking place in Jefferson City."

Lincoln Hough - Currently serving in the Missouri Senate, he previously served on the Greene County Commission and as a House representative before that. Hough said one of his accomplishments as chairman of the powerful appropriations committee includes defunding Planned Parenthood. He plans to he says the "most important thing" for voters to know is that he "did not come from a political family."

Paul Berry III - This is the fifth campaign the St. Louis County businessman has run since 2012. He is a bail bondsman from Bridgeton and the great-nephew of rock-n-roll legend Chuck Berry.

Tim Baker - Currently serving as the county clerk in Franklin County, believes he could bring more attention to the importance of farming if elected. He says he has saved taxpayers money by reducing 'wasteful spending.'

Find out more about all candidates running at Vote411.org.

Republican primary for MO-3 representative

In early 2024, U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkeyer announced he would not run for re-election this year. With his retirement, multiple Republicans saw an opening for the position. The Missouri 3rd Congressional District represents parts of Jefferson City and some of the St. Louis area. All candidates are listed in the order they will appear on the ballot.

Bob Onder -A former state senator, Onder originally planned on running in the GOP primary for lieutenant governor. Following Luetkeyer's announcement, he shifted focus to the U.S. House. The physician previously ran for Congress against Luetkemeyer in 2008. Onder recently received former President Trump's endorsem*nt.

Kurt Schaefer - The former two-term senator has worked as a lobbyist since 2017. He was chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee during his time as senator. He previously ran for Missouri attorney general in a tough GOP primary but was defeated by Josh Hawley in 2016.

Details on all primary races can be found on Vote411.org.