KC-area lawmaker elected MO House speaker, survives challenge after abortion comments
A Kansas City-area lawmaker survived a challenge from a hard-right lawmaker on Wednesday to become the first Missouri House speaker from Jackson County since the 1800s.
Missouri House lawmakers overwhelmingly chose Rep. Jonathan Patterson, a Lee’s Summit Republican, to lead the chamber for the next two years. Patterson is also the first Asian American ever to hold the position, arguably the most powerful in the General Assembly.
The House voted 152 to 10 to pick Patterson over Rep. Justin Sparks, a Wildwood Republican who mounted a longshot bid for the speakership. Sparks’ challenge was based in part on comments Patterson made about respecting voters’ November decision to approve Amendment 3, which legalized abortion.
The speakership vote loomed over the first day of the 2025 legislative session, typically a routine day with little fanfare. While Sparks failed, his challenge underscored that Republican leaders will likely face pressure this year to pass some kind of response to Amendment 3.
Patterson, in his first speech as speaker, emphasized a need for Republicans to make changes to the abortion rights amendment, saying “there can be no greater gift than the gift of life.”
“That means, while we respect the will of the voters, we must clarify the provisions of Amendment 3 and make Missouri the most pro-life state it can be,” he said.
Republicans have already filed a raft of legislation to reinstate some level of abortion ban after voters enshrined the right to the procedure. However, lawmakers appear at odds over how far to go as bills range from offering modest gestures toward access to amendments that would enact a near-total abortion ban.
Sparks’ challenge to another Republican is especially rare in Missouri politics as Patterson was already chosen by his GOP colleagues to become the presumptive speaker more than a year ago.
Several of Sparks’ supporters from across the state lined the hallways of the Missouri Capitol on Wednesday holding signs reading “Sparks for Speaker.” One woman traveled from West Plains. Another man came from New Florence.
In support of Patterson, Rep. Scott Cupps, a Shell Knob Republican, wore a baseball hat saying “Team J.P.” Cupps, a cattle farmer, said he made the hat with a cattle ear tag marker.
During the vote, House Democrats, as is customary, nominated Minority Leader Ashley Aune, a Kansas City Democrat, to serve as speaker. Aune declined the nomination and backed Patterson, saying that he would be an effective leader for both parties in the General Assembly.
“I know he will lead this chamber with integrity and a dedication to fairness and a respect for our institution and all of its members,” Aune said.
Wednesday’s vote illustrated that while Sparks had rounded up support from grassroots conservatives online, he failed to transfer that to support among his Republican colleagues.
Only nine other House Republicans voted in favor of his bid: Reps. Bob Titus from Billings, Bryant Wolfin from Ste. Genevieve, Keith Elliott from Doniphan, Steve Jordan from Advance, Dale Wright from Farmington, Mazzie Christensen from Bethany, Burt Whaley from Clever, Lisa Durnell from Willow Springs and Deanna Self from St. Paul.
Sparks, in a text to The Star, appeared to signal that his challenge was a message to House leadership, saying the vote was “something that hasn’t happened in a very long time.”
“10 members of the House stood against the status quo and did what their constituents asked them to do - vote to decentralize power of the Speaker and send it back to where it belongs - The People,” Sparks said, referencing rule changes he wanted to enact as speaker. “And it was on the record.”
Abortion central to challenge
In the lead up to Wednesday, Sparks took to social media on numerous occasions to promote his bid for the speakership and contrast his views with Patterson’s. One particular issue highlighted comments Patterson made ahead of the November election about respecting the will of the voters on Amendment 3.
“That’s not what the leader of the Republican caucus should be saying, guys,” Sparks said in a video announcing his bid, referring to Patterson’s comments on abortion. “On day one, your speaker must address and tackle Amendment 3,” he added.
Later in November, Patterson clarified his stance on the measure, signaling that he supported efforts to make changes to the voter-approved amendment. During a press conference on Wednesday, he said Sparks’ challenge for the speakership had nothing to do with abortion.
“This was not about Amendment 3 or any policy agenda,” Patterson said. “This was a person with an oceanic ego who took it upon himself to make this day about himself. It really was very disappointing.”
During a press conference with House Democrats, Aune said that while Patterson received bipartisan support during the fight over the speakership, he also received votes from the right-wing of his party.
“He built a very conservative coalition to get where he is today,” Aune said. “He had to appease the folks on the far-right of his caucus to earn their trust. So he will be expected, I think, to move further to the right than you’ve seen him before, and I’ll be interested to see how that takes shape.”
Patterson’s election marks the first time the Missouri House will be led by a speaker from Jackson County since James Chiles in 1857 — prior to the Civil War. Patterson, a physician by trade, previously served as House majority leader.
Aside from abortion, Patterson highlighted several other key issues lawmakers plan to address this year. They included legislation related to helping kids in foster care, addressing mental health issues, public safety and expanding child care services.
House Democrats touted similar key priorities and also emphasized child care and mental health resources. They said they also want to tackle the cost of groceries and rural medical services.
In his first speech as speaker, Patterson called on lawmakers to focus on legislation that makes the state better instead of being “too preoccupied with politics and Facebook videos to do any serious work.”
“When we have our differences, let us argue with respect,” he said. “And when we find common goals let us pursue them with the energy and passion fitting the people we serve.”
