Field Set For Crawford County’s District 2 Race

Filing for the Aug. 6 primary ended on March 26, setting the stage for a pair of contested elections in Crawford County’s two road districts.

In District 1, Chad Barton and Mark Pfeiffer are running for the seat currently occupied by Commissioner Rob Cummings.

Cummings, who is approaching the end of his second term, did not file for a third.

The race for District 2 commissioner will see a three-way contest between incumbent Jared Boast and challengers Randy Chandler and David Gargus.

Chandler, a former District 2 employee now working in District 1, declared his candidacy last fall.

Four other county officials have filed for another four-year term and will be unopposed in the primary election.

Assessor Kellie Vestal, Public Administrator Franky Todd, Sheriff Darin Layman and Coroner Darren Dake did not draw any challengers.

State

While it seemed like John Hewkin would be unopposed in his bid for the Republican nomination for the 120th District, a challenger emerged in the final five days.

Lancer Blair, of Salem, filed March 21. 

The winner of the primary moves on to face Democrat Jen Tracy in November.

The current incumbent — Ron Copeland (R-Salem) — has chosen not to run for reelection.

Senate

A pair of Republicans will face off to represent District 3 in the state senate, while the Democrat is moving on to November.

Mike Henderson, of Desloge, and Cyndi Buccheit-Courtway, of Festus, will face each other in the primary.

Doug Halbert, of Hematite, filed on March 26 to give Democrats a candidate in this seat, which covers Crawford, St. Francois, Ste. Genevieve, Washington and part of Jefferson counties.

The district is currently represented by Elaine Gannon (R-De Soto). 

Gannon has served in the senate since 2020. She previously served eight years in the Missouri House of Representatives.