Democrats narrowly gain seats in local Missouri legislature races

Missouri Democrats arrived at Election Day believing they would finally take a bite out of the Republican Party’s super majorities in the state legislature. Locally, they got a nibble.

In nine of the area’s most competitive races, Democrats won three, including narrowly flipping two seats in the House in final, unofficial results.

Senate District 34

In the most closely watched contest, Republican Tony Luetkemeyer of Parkville beat Democrat Martin Rucker of Kansas City to win a seat being vacated by term-limited Republican Sen. Rob Schaaf.

Luetkemeyer, an attorney, won in his first run at public office by 38,648 votes to 35,015.

Rucker, a project engineer for Kissick Construction, is a former football star with the University of Missouri and the NFL.

Senate District 8

In a rematch of last year’s special election, incumbent Republican state Sen. Mike Cierpiot won again over Democrat Hillary Shields.

Last year, Cierpiot coasted in an 8-point victory, and Tuesday with more than 95 percent of precincts reporting, Cierpiot led with 55 percent of the vote, even though this time Shields raised more campaign funds.

House District 14

In a razor-tight finish, Democratic challenger Matt Sain edged incumbent Republican Rep. Kevin Corlew by 84 votes.

Sain, a recent law school graduate in his first run at elective office, tallied 8,986 votes to Corlew’s 8,902. Corlew, a Kansas City attorney, was seeking a third term.

House District 35

Democrat Keri Ingle seized what had been a Republican seat, over Republican Tom Lovell in a close race.

With all but one precinct reporting, Ingle had 8,856 votes to Lovell’s 7,938 to succeed incumbent Republican Rep. Gary Cross of Lee’s Summit, who is leaving because of term limits.

House District 13

Republicans retained this seat as Vic Allred defeated Democratic challenger Mitch Weber.

Allred earned 10,574 votes to Weber’s 8,856 to replace term-limited Republican Rep. Nick Marshall.

Allred, who owns several restaurants, and Weber, a former broadcast journalist, both live in Parkville.

House District 15

Democrats held on to this seat as incumbent Democratic state Rep. Jon Carpenter of Kansas City coasted past controversial Republican challenger Steve West.

Carpenter won by a vote of 9,261 to 5,398 in a race that drew attention because it was revealed after West won the GOP primary that he had a radio show and website espousing views of homophobia, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and racism. Two of his children pleaded for people not to vote for him.

House District 32

Republicans held on to this seat as Jeff Coleman beat Democrat Janice Brill.

Coleman won with 9,068 votes to Brill’s 5,867 votes to succeed term-limited incumbent Rep. Jeanie Lauer, R-Blue Springs.

House District 31

Incumbent Republican Rep. Dan Stacy will return to the House after beating Democrat Travis Hagewood.

Stacy garnered 8,340 votes to 6,589 for Hagewood.

House District 34

Republicans also kept this seat in the fold as incumbent Republican Rep. Rebecca Roeber edged Democrat James Ripley.

Roeber recorded 8,871 votes and Ripley earned 7,791.

This story was originally published November 6, 2018 at 10:56 PM.