With the August primaries behind us, a clearer picture of the 2023 legislature is emerging. There will be eight new members of the Senate come January. Given the makeup of the districts, we predict the following will be elected in November: Nick Schroers, 2nd; Travis Fitzwater, 10th; Rusty Black, 12th; Curtis Trent, 20th; Mary Elizabeth Coleman, 22nd; Tracy McCreery, 24th; Ben Brown, 26th; and, Jill Carter, 32nd.

While the Republican/Democrat makeup will remain the same, several of those elected (Schroers, Trent, Coleman, Brown, and Carter) are not happy with the status quo regarding leadership. So, we will look for a vigorous debate over the next couple of months ending with leadership elections the week after the November general election.

On the U.S. Senate front, current Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt won the Republican nomination; and Trudy Busch Valentine won the Democrat nomination. This is shaping up to be an expensive match-up with the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling on anti-abortion law and the reversal of the 1970s ruling of Roe vs. Wade taking center stage.

There will also be a proposed amendment on legalizing the adult use of marijuana on the ballot. We’ll report more after the mid-November House and Senate Republican caucus regarding leadership.