WASHINGTON—Today, the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) announced four Missouri candidates running in target races to combat Republican power in the legislature. These strong Spotlight candidates provide opportunities to flip and defend competitive seats and make gains in GOP territory.
The Spotlight candidates unveiled today are:
- Rep. Jamie Johnson (HD-12) is running for reelection to the Missouri House, where she flipped a seat in 2022 and made history as the first Black representative ever elected in Platte County. Since then Jamie has focused on making housing and health care more affordable, supporting workers and veterans, and ensuring Missouri’s public schools receive adequate funding. Jamie is a proven voice for the people, fighting extremism at every turn, and if she is reelected, she will continue to work for a brighter future for Missouri.
- Rep. Stephanie Hein (HD-136) is a former university professor running for reelection to the Missouri House district she flipped blue in 2022. Stephanie was raised by a family of educators and is herself a product of the Missouri public school system. As a state representative, Stephanie has been a champion for responsible fiscal policy that directs state funds to the places it’s needed most– public education, infrastructure, and creating economic opportunities for Missouri’s working families. If she wins reelection, Stephanie will keep up the fight to improve life for every Missouri resident.
- Joe Pereles (SD-15) is a former attorney and long-time Red Cross volunteer running to flip a seat in the Missouri Senate. Decades of experience in business and community service have prepared Joe to be a responsive and thoughtful representative who provides tangible results for Missouri’s working families. If Joe is elected, he will fight against right-wing extremism, propose common-sense solutions to gun violence, and push for full public school funding.
- Rep. Maggie Nurrenbern (SD-17) is a former high school Spanish teacher and current state representative running for the Missouri Senate to flip her district blue. Maggie has been a champion for public education while serving in the Missouri House, where she also fought against the state’s dangerous abortion ban and increased access to affordable health care. Now she’s ready to join the state Senate to strengthen Democratic influence in the chamber and keep fighting to restore reproductive freedom in Missouri.
Missouri Republicans represent a hotbed of Republican extremism. Missouri has one of the most restrictive abortion bans in the country, yet this year Republicans wielded their governing trifecta to make reproductive health care access even more difficult to access for low-income Missourians. In 2023, Missouri Republicans set a record, introducing more anti-LGBTQ+ bills than any other state. That’s why chipping away at Republicans’ unchecked power is key. The Spotlight candidates announced today have strong ties to their communities and are running to block Republicans’ agenda targeting Missouri’s most vulnerable communities. These four candidates join over 180 state legislative candidates in our Spotlight program who are running across the country to build Democratic power and counter MAGA control of state legislatures.
Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee President Heather Williams issued the following statement:
“Republicans in Missouri have advanced some of the most extreme legislation across the country at an unprecedented volume and the Spotlight candidates announced today are stepping up to turn the tides in the state. These candidates offer a brighter vision for their communities where fundamental freedoms and democracy are protected – not under constant assault. The DLCC works across all 50 states, even in tough Republican territory, because building power one seat at a time is how we build the foundation for change. Victory for these candidates would make inroads to gradually shift the balance of power in the legislature and pave the way for a stronger Missouri.”
The DLCC is the official arm of the Democratic Party with the sole mission of building Democratic power in the states and setting the national agenda at the state level. Over the last decade, we have fought cycle-over-cycle to gain a dozen new legislative chamber majorities and we are leading the effort to bring national attention and investment to our ballot level. State legislatures are the building blocks of our democracy and have the closest connections to Americans’ day-to-day lives. From protecting fundamental freedoms and voting rights to growing the middle class, the DLCC and state legislators are moving the Democratic agenda forward and shaping the future of this country.
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