The Phelps County Primary Election is rapidly approaching and citizens will have numerous decisions to make regarding their local representatives.

For the United States Representative of the 8th District, Republican Jason Smith, incumbent, is challenged by Republican Gordon Heslop. The winner will take on the victor of the Democrat party race between Chris Reichard and Frank A. Barnitz in the General Election in November. Libertarian party candidate Rebecca Sharpe Lombard is also running for the 8th District U.S. representative seat in the Primary Election.

Republican candidates Gene DeLuca and Patricia Maxwell are running for the committeeman position for the St. James Outside Township. There isn’t a Democrat candidate running for the job.

Republicans Clark Harrison and Kimberly Murphy are seeking the committeeman position in St. James Ward 1. There isn’t a Democrat running for the position.

Four Republicans are running for State Senator in District 16. Incumbent Justin Dan Brown, who has served since 2019, will have his term end in 2027. Bill Hardwick, Philip Lohmann, Don Mayhew and Hannah Kelly are running on the Republican ballot in the Primary. The winner will take on Democrat Virginia Staabs in the General Election.

Three Republicans are running for Recorder of Deeds in the Primary and there isn’t a Democrat candidate for the position. Joshua Meyer, Lauri Kean and Lori Lunceford are the Republican candidates. Robin Kordes has served the position since 2002 and was the first Recorder of Deeds in the county.

For State Auditor, incumbent Scott Fitzpatrick is running for re-election against Gerald (Jerry) Wistrand, Jr., in the Republican Primary. The victor will take on the winner of the Democrat Primary election between Quentin Wilson and Gregory Upchurch and Libertarian candidate, Dustin Coffell, who is also running for State Auditor.

In a race for United States Representative in District 122, Republican Tara Peters, incumbent, is unopposed and will face Democrat Dan Victor in the General Election.

For State Representative in House District 143, Bennie Cook, incumbent, is the only Republican candidate, and will run against the lone Democrat, Marsha Snodgrass, in the General Election.

Absentee ballots are now available in the County Clerk’s office or via the county website. An absentee ballot for the August Primary must be mailed to the local election authority by 5 p.m. by Wednesday, July 22, in order to be valid.

Absentee ballot voting can be done in person Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from July 23 to Aug. 3 and on Saturday, Aug. 1 from 8 a.m. to noon at the Phelps County Clerk’s Office. Ballots may be returned by the voter in person, by the voter’s next of kin, or by mail to the Phelps County Clerk’s Office at 200 North Main Street, Rolla, MO 65401.

If you have any questions regarding voter registration or absentee balloting, contact Phelps County Clerk Laura Johnson at 573-458-6115.

Polling places will be open from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m. the day of the election and will be held at the Community Hall in Nelson Hart Park for Wards 1, 2 and 3, and at the St. James VFW Hall, located at 18775 State Hwy KK, St James, MO 65559 for Ward 4 and St. James Outside East and West. 

Sample ballots will be available in an upcoming edition of the Saint James Press.