Republican Denny Hoskins wins race for Missouri secretary of state as GOP holds office
Missouri Sen. Denny Hoskins won the race for Missouri secretary of state on Tuesday after building a campaign that focused on his conservative voting record in the General Assembly.
Hoskins, from Warrensburg, was first elected to the state Senate in 2016 after previously serving in the House. Hoskins was one of the founding members of the Senate’s Missouri Freedom Caucus, a hard-right group of senators who frequently sparred with GOP leadership.
The victory by Hoskins affirms the Republican Party’s tight grip on Missouri politics. He defeated Democratic Rep. Barbara Phifer from Kirkwood, who campaigned on the idea that the secretary of state should be a nonpartisan position and serve everybody in the state.
The Associated Press had not called the race as of 11:40 p.m, but unofficial results showed him leading with 56.1% of the vote. Phifer had 41.2% of the vote, according to the AP.
Hoskins declared victory in a statement Tuesday evening, saying he looked forward to “to fighting hard for this state.”
“The right to vote is fundamental, and I will work hard to ensure voters know that their ballots are safe and that our elections are secure,” Hoskins said. “We absolutely must end election fraud, and my top priority will be to create an Office of Election Crimes and Security to enable my office to investigate fraud and ensure those responsible are held accountable.”
Hoskins’ victory could have major consequences for how future elections are operated in Missouri. During his campaign, Hoskins pushed the idea of hand-counting ballots, a change that alarmed election experts who predicted it would completely overhaul how elections are run and cause voters to endure even longer waits.
However, any changes to elections would likely have to come from lawmakers in the General Assembly.
He also built his campaign on his legislative experience and a push for “election integrity,” which includes in-person voting on paper ballots.
Hoskins has also faced criticism after being sued for sharing social media posts that wrongfully accused a Kansas man of being a shooter in the February mass shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl parade.
On the Democratic side, Phifer promoted the idea of impartial and accurate language on ballot measures, which became a source of controversy this year after current Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft was sued for crafting incendiary language on an abortion rights proposal.
“If you value free and fair elections, support for small businesses, and protection for books, libraries, and their staff, I’m the candidate for you,” Phifer wrote on social media last month.
Hoskins’ victory comes after he weathered one of the most crowded Republican primaries earlier this year. Eight Republicans had filed to run for the office and he squeaked out a win despite receiving only 24.3% of the Republican vote.
The position of secretary of state has historically been ministerial, serving as the state’s chief election official. It’s also in charge of certifying measures for statewide ballots and storing state documents.
Before Missouri instituted term limits, Democrat James Kirkpatrick held the office for 20 years, from 1965 to 1985.
But amid a growing Republican focus on elections, false claims about rampant voter fraud have raised the profile of the position across the country. Several Republicans, including Hoskins, have vowed to make sweeping changes to elections.
In addition to his promise of hand-counted ballots, Hoskins and other Republicans have focused on baseless fears about non-citizen voting.
This story was originally published November 5, 2024 at 11:52 PM.
