By RUDI KELLER, Missouri Independent
Anyone who procrastinated on filing for political office will get another chance to enter the Aug. 6 primary in a handful of contests.
Late withdrawals from four congressional races, four state House races and the lieutenant governor contest means filing for those offices will resume on Tuesday, Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft’s office announced. Filing will close for those offices on April 5.
Under Missouri law, when candidates withdraw within two days of the close of filing, a special filing period opens for four days in the following week.
Filing for all parties will open for the 82nd, 84th and 154th Missouri House Districts, the 3rd, 5th and 6th congressional districts in addition to lieutenant governor.
The highest profile late withdrawals were by House Speaker Dean Plocher, who exited the Republican primary for lieutenant governor and entered the race for secretary of state, and state Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, who dropped out of the Republican primary in the 3rd Congressional District and also filed for secretary of state.
Plocher’s departure leaves six Republicans, two Democrats and a Libertarian in the race for lieutenant governor. After Coleman’s withdrawal in the 3rd District, there are eight Republicans, two Democrats and a Libertarian running to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer.
In the other races:
- The 82nd District, a south St. Louis city seat currently held by term-limited state Rep. Donna Baringer, Republican candidate Richard Cowell withdrew, leaving a Republican and a Democrat in the race.
- The 84th District, a west St. Louis city seat, where Republican candidate Robert Vroman withdrew from a race against incumbent state Rep. Del Taylor, a Democrat. Cowell filed in the 84th District and he will run against Taylor.
- The 154th District, which covers most of Howell County, where incumbent Republican state Rep. David Evans withdrew. There are three other Republicans and a Democrat already filed.
- The 2nd Congressional District, which covers Franklin County and portions of St. Louis, St. Charles and Warren counties, where Democratic candidate John Kiehne withdrew. There are two Republicans, including incumbent U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner, two Democrats and a Libertarian filed for the office.
- The 5th Congressional District, which covers most of Kansas City, where Republican Teresa Murphy withdrew from the primary for the nomination to face incumbent U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver. One Republican, Cleaver and a Libertarian are filed.
- The 6th Congressional District, which covers much of the state north of the Missouri River. Democratic candidate Erik Richardson withdrew, leaving four Republicans, including incumbent U.S. Rep. Sam Graves, two other Democrats and a Libertarian on the ballot.
Filing for those offices will occur during business hours and will open at 8 a.m. on Tuesday and close at 5 p.m. on April 5 at the Secretary of State’s office in Jefferson City.