The missouri delegation
congressional officials …
Missouri has a moderately sized but electorally stable congressional delegation, although both U.S. Senators serve in the first terms, and two House members are freshmen.
Of the ten members in the 2022-2023 class, three are minority representation through the end of the year, with eight males and two females comprising the group. Three are lawyers; one is a former mayor of Kansas City, another is a former U.S. Ambassador, a former national co-chair of the Republican National Committee, a United Methodist minister, and a nurse.
The average tenure for the delegation is 5.2 terms, assuming everyone completes their service through the end of 2024. The longest-serving member has been in Congress since 1992.
One of the senators is facing re-election in 2024.
When you look at these profiles, we have given each a letter grade for their effort this Congress, based on various factors, which you will find in What Is Thomas Looking For? These letter grades are probably pretty familiar to you if you have ever been a school student (we hope the answer to that is we all have!)
If you see a meager score for a particular member, it will probably be due to one or two key factors: ethics challenges or anti-democratic behavior.
Republicans have been hit hard on their lack of pushback on former President Trump and their support of election denying in the 2020 presidential campaign. The unanswered soaring deficit on their watch, the dismantling of allied relationships around the globe, and opposition to funding anti-authoritarian initiatives. The denial of climate change weighs heavily on us as well. We make no secret that transparency and Government in the Sunshine are important to us, and we further argue that some have been awful stewards of this category. For example, three of the ten Missouri delegation members, including a United States Senator, voted to overturn the 2020 presidential election results the same evening Trump supporters stormed the United States Capitol.
Democrats have been hit hard for their lack of progress on key matters because they do control the United States Senate and have a razor-close margin in the U.S. House of Representatives. They have not been, in our opinion, innovative or necessarily insistent on finding rational, reasonable solutions to the problems plaguing the American public today. We want to see more and better.
Both have been dinged for being too partisan and not collaborative where evident. In our opinion, being too doctrinaire or an obstructionist to good government in the 21st century does not get one a good grade from Thomas.
We also indicate what we believe might be the outcome of these Members’ 2024 elections today. The majority of House members were re-elected in 2022.
Our prospect ratings fall into three categories:
Safe Bet - which means what it means. These members of Congress are running strong and look to be overwhelming prospects for re-election at this time. However, we reserve the right to re-categorize their chances if necessary.
It’s A Race - means this race is too close to call, and we can not reasonably predict who will win this seat.
Nudging - means the seat is leaning one way or another for this candidate. We have just a small number of current members of Congress in this category. Stay tuned!
So, would you like to meet these fascinating Missourians? If so, keep reading on!
what is thomas looking for?
There are no vulnerable races Thomas will be watching in Missouri for 2024:
the senators
Credit: US Senator Josh Hawley
United States Senator josh hawley (r)
First-term Senator Josh Hawley, who is up for re-election in 2024, is Missouri’s senior United States Senator and serves on the Armed Services Committee; the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee; the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee; and the Judiciary Committee. A graduate of Stanford University with a law degree from Yale University, Senator Hawley is married and the father of three. He is a former Missouri Attorney General.
Thomas Take: Up for Re-Election in 2024 - Safe Bet Republican
Thomas Rank: F
Credit: US Senator Eric Schmitt
United states senator eric schmitt (r)
Eric Schmitt is a former Missouri Attorney General who was elected to office in 2022 and is serving in his freshman term as the state’s junior United States Senator. A graduate of Truman State University with a law degree from St. Louis University, Senator Schmitt serves on the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee and the Armed Services Committee. He is married and the father of three.
Thomas Take: Not up for re-election in 2024
Thomas Rank: B
the representatives
Credit: US Rep. Cori Bush
district 1 - u.s. rep. cori bush (D)
Congresswoman Cori Bush represents the St. Louis area in Congress and is serving her second term. Representative Bush is a graduate of the Lutheran School of Nursing. She is a member of the Oversight and Accountability Committee and the Judiciary Committee. Congresswoman Bush is married and the mother of two. The U.S. Department of Justice has informed Congress that they are conducting an investigation into the Congresswoman for misuse of federal funds. More to come.
Thomas Take: Defeated in Re-Election Primary in 2024 - (Open Seat) - Safe Bet Democrat
Thomas Rank: D
district 2 - U.S. Rep. ann wagner (r)
Six-term Congresswoman Ann Wagner represents the eastern Missouri area of the state including St. Louis suburbs to the south and west of the city. A former co-chair of the Republican National Committee and a former U.S. Ambassador to Luxembourg appointed by President George W. Bush, the Congresswoman serves on the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Financial Services Committee. She is married, the mother of three, and a graduate of the University of Missouri.
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Republican
Thomas Rank: B
Credit: US Rep. Ann Wagner
Credit: US Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer
District 3 - U.S. Rep. blaine luetkemeyer (r)
Representing eastern and central Missouri including the capital of Jefferson City, Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer is an eight-term member of the House. Congressman Luetkemeyer has announced that he will not be seeking re-election in 2024. He serves on the Financial Services Committee; the Small Business Committee; and the Strategic Competition Between the United States and Chinese Communist Party Committee. The Congressman is a graduate of Lincoln University, is married, and the father of three.
Thomas Take: Not Running for Re-Election in 2024 (Open Seat) - Safe Bet Republican
Thomas Rank: D
District 4 - U.S. Rep. mark alford (R)
Freshman member of Congress Mark Alford represents a district that is in the western and central part of Missouri including parts of Kansas City. A former television news anchor, Alford attended the University of Texas but did not graduate. He is a member of the Armed Services Committee, the Small Business Committee, and the Agriculture Committee.
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Republican
Thomas Rank: B
Credit: US Rep. Mark Alford
Credit: US Rep. Emanuel Cleaver
district 5 - U.S. rep. emanuel cleaver (D)
A former two-term Mayor of Kansas City representing that area in Congress, ten-term Congressman Emanuel Cleaver serves on the Financial Services Committee. A United Methodist minister, and married father of four, Congressman Cleaver graduated from Prairie View A&M University and earned his graduate divinity degree from Saint Paul School of Theology.
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Democrat
Thomas Rank: B
district 6 - U.S. rep. sam graves (r)
The dean of the Missouri congressional delegation with sixteen terms under his belt, Congressman Sam Graves represents a district that stretches from Kansas City to the Illinois border. The married father of three is chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and is a member of the Armed Services Committee.
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Republican
Thomas Rank: D
Credit: US Rep. Sam Graves
Credit: US Rep. Eric Burlison
district 7 - U.s. Rep. eric burlison (r)
Congressman Eric Burlison is a freshman member of the House representing a district in southwestern Missouri. The married father of two earned his undergraduate and graduate degrees from Missouri State University. He serves on the Education and the Workforce Committee; the Oversight and Accountability Committee; and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Republican
Thomas Rank: B
district 8 - U.S. Rep. jason smith (r)
Jason Smith is a six-term member of Congress who chairs the House Ways and Means Committee. A graduate of the University of Missouri with a law degree from Oklahoma City University, Congressman Smith represents a district in the southeastern and southern portions of the state.
Thomas Take: Safe Bet Republican
Thomas Rank: D
Credit: US Rep. Jason Smith