Jackson County leader drops Congress run. One GOP candidate from KC metro remains
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Sean Smith exits 5th District GOP primary after six weeks to run for MO 34th House.
- Redrawn 5th District made it more Republican-leaning; GOP primary field is now thin.
- Missouri’s 34th House seat is competitive; Smith is now running for that seat.
Jackson County Legislator Sean Smith announced on Tuesday that he has dropped out of the Republican primary for Missouri’s 5th Congressional District and will instead run for a seat in the Missouri Statehouse.
In a statement, Smith said he’s refocusing his efforts to where he believes he can “make the most immediate impact.”
“At a time when our communities are facing real challenges, from government accountability to rising costs, I believe the best way I can continue to serve is by working directly on the issues that impact families here at home,” Smith said.
The narrowing field leaves only one Republican candidate from the Kansas City metropolitan area to challenge longtime Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, a Kansas City Democrat. Missouri Republicans redrew Cleaver’s district last year to make it more favorable for Republicans at the behest of President Donald Trump.
When Smith ran against Cleaver in 2024, he received 34.6% of the vote.
St. Louis University Political Scientist Steven Rogers said the short period of time since the map was formed may have given candidates less time to strategize
“This district is going to be a new district,” Rogers said. “It probably would have been more helpful if, say, candidates knew what the district was going to be like to maybe increase the field a little bit.”
Smith is ending his campaign just six weeks after he announced his candidacy. In an interview last week, Smith told The Star that he felt the campaign was in a good starting place.
“I feel like I’m starting from a good place, and we’ll see how it all pans out over the next few months,” Smith said.
Smith said he will pivot to run in Missouri’s 34th House District, a seat currently held by Rep. Kemp Strickler, a Lee’s Summit Democrat. The district, which covers parts of Lee’s Summit, is competitive. In 2024, Strickler defeated retired businessman JC Crossley by 709 votes.
Missouri Sen. Rick Brattin, a Harrisonville Republican, and former Boone County Clerk Taylor Burks announced their campaigns last month. Three candidates that have never held office, Brad Patty, Robert Folz and Brett Hueffmeier, have also launched campaigns in the Republican Primary.
Hueffmeier is the only remaining Republican candidate who resides in the Kansas City metro.
Smith could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.
