Vivek Malek wins Missouri Republican primary for treasurer, fending off major rivals
Missouri Treasurer Vivek Malek won the Republican primary on Tuesday, fending off multiple challengers and setting himself on a path to becoming the first person of color to win a statewide general election in Missouri history.
Malek, an immigrant from India who became a lawyer, campaigned on promises of cracking down on illegal immigration and supporting former President Donald Trump in building a wall along the southern border. He promoted his work as treasurer in pulling out of investments in Chinese companies.
The Associated Press called the race for Malek just before 9 p.m. Malek had 42.3% of the vote, with several other candidates under 20%.
Malek was expected to address supporters at a watch party in St. Louis County.
“I love doing this job. It’s my American dream, come true. My opponents are running to get the job, but I’m running to keep doing the job in service to my fellow Missourians,” Malek said earlier this year.
Malek will face Mark Osmack in the November general election. Osmack, an Army veteran, ran unopposed in the Democratic primary, and has promised to be “focused on the bottom line - not politics.” Democrats last won an election for treasurer in 2012.
The state treasurer serves as Missouri’s chief financial officer and is tasked with protecting state funds from fraud and abuse. The position manages the state’s revenue, oversees the disbursement of funds and handles the state’s more than $6 billion investment portfolio.
Before entering politics Malek, who has worked as a lawyer in Missouri since 2006, focused mainly on legal immigration litigation and business immigration consulting. He immigrated to Cape Girardeau in 2001 from India, where he was born and raised.
Gov. Mike Parson appointed Malek as treasurer in early 2023 to replace Scott Fitzpatrick, a Republican who became state auditor. Malek, who had kept a law office in the St. Louis area, was a relatively unknown name statewide when Parson named him to the job.
Malek is the first person of color to hold statewide office in Missouri – and would be the first person of color to win office statewide if elected to a full, four-year term in November. He has said that when he came to Missouri to attend Southeast Missouri State University, he had just $300 in his pocket and took a graduate assistant position to help pay his tuition.
Amid a competitive Republican primary, Malek leaned into stances popular among conservative voters, including vowing to stop “the woke agenda” and filming a campaign ad at the southern border. The campaign emphasis sometimes seemed at odds with how the treasurer’s position is traditionally viewed – as a relatively uncontroversial stepping-stone to higher office.
Malek’s biggest opponents hit on similar themes.
Malek holds a bachelor’s degree and law degree from Mahrishi Dayanand University in Rohtak, India. He also has a master’s degree from Southeast Missouri State University and a master’s of law degree from the University of Illinois College of Law.
The Star’s Kacen Bayless contributed reporting
