GOP has a banner night in Missouri, U.S. legislative elections

University of Missouri Maneater

U.S. CONGRESS

SENATE Republicans have taken the United States Senate, gaining the six seats needed for control. The GOP picked up seats in Arkansas, Colorado, Iowa, Kentucky, Montana, South Dakota and West Virginia. This is the first time Republicans have controlled the Senate since George W. Bush was president. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) is poised to take the majority leader position after handily defeating Democratic challenger Alison Lundergan Grimes by more than sixteen percentage points.

HOUSE Republicans also strengthened their majority in the U.S. House, winning 19 seats previously occupied by Democrats. The House has been held by Republicans since 2010.

UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 4

Republican incumbent Vicky Hartzler of Harrisonville has been re-elected, defeating Democrat Nate Irvin and Libertarian Herschel Young. Hartzler has represented Missouri in the U.S. House since 2011. Hartzler opposes abortion and same-sex marriage and would like to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Additionally, she said she would like to reform Medicaid and Medicare. Hartzler voted against the Violence Against Women Act due to a provision including same-sex couples.

MISSOURI GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Republicans increased their majorities in Jefferson City, adding eight seats in the state House and two seats in the state Senate.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 44

Republican incumbent Caleb Rowden defeated Democrat Tom Pauley for District 44 state representative. He’s been serving Missouri since 2012. Rowden opposes abortion, would like to cut government spending and pledged to keep taxes low for citizens and businesses. He said he would like to increase funding for MU.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 45

Democrat Kip Kendrick ran unopposed and was elected to his first term in the Missouri General Assembly. Kendrick said he would like to expand Medicaid and Columbia’s health care industry. He formerly worked at MU, as a study abroad adviser for the journalism program.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 46

Democrat incumbent Stephen Webber also ran unopposed in this election and was re-elected. He has been serving Missouri since 2008. Webber opposes the death penalty. Additionally, he would like to enforce minimum wage increases and increase Medicaid coverage.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 47

Republican Chuck Basye has defeated incumbent Democrat John Wright for control of District 47. Basye supports gun rights and would like to work to protect Missouri farmers from special interest groups.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 50

Republican incumbent Caleb Jones ran unopposed in the election and was re-elected. He has been serving Missouri since 2010. Jones opposes abortion and supports gun rights. Additionally, he would like to prioritize education to be the state’s top funding priority, opposing the cuts of recent years.

MISSOURI AMENDMENTS

AMENDMENT 2

Amendment 2, known as the Missouri Evidence in Sexual Crimes Against Minors Amendment, was passed in Missouri. With its passage, past evidence of relevant criminal acts will be be admissible in courts in prosecutions of crimes involving a victim under 18 years of age. The Amendment has received some controversy, as the past evidence would not have to actually be a conviction to be used in court.

AMENDMENT 3

Missouri Teacher Performance Evaluation Amendment, or Amendment 3, was shot down. This amendment would have allowed teachers to be judged based on performance evaluations, which would use data from student performance. It might have allowed for reforms to prioritize higher standardized testing scores, but it was opposed as a problematic method for measuring teacher performance.

AMENDMENT 6

Amendment 6 also failed in Missouri. The Missouri Early Voting Period Amendment would have created an early voting period in an effort to increase voter turnout. Opposition to the amendment was largely based on its financial burden on taxpayers. Had it passed, it might have increased costs for Missouri residents, but it would not have increased taxes.

AMENDMENT 10

Amendment 10, the Missouri Gubernatorial Budgetary Recommendations Amendment, was passed. The amendment limits the governor’s power when it comes to the state budget. The Missouri governor will no longer be able to make recommendations to legislature about the budget based only on proposed legislation. Additionally, the governor will not be able to reduce appropriations for paying off public debt.