Special elections leave Missouri House with fewer lawyers

Four special elections on Tuesday left the Missouri House with fewer members who are lawyers.

Two attorneys who ran for office lost their elections, and two seats previously held by lawyers are now held by nonlawyers.

In the 39^th District in Kansas City, former teachers union leader Judy Morgan, a Democrat, defeated Jamie Barker Landes, a Republican real estate attorney. Morgan replaces Shalonn “Kiki” Curls, who is now in the Missouri Senate.

In the 15^th District in St. Charles County, Republican businesswoman Chrissy Sommer narrowly defeated Democrat Paul Woody, an attorney. The election was to replace Sally Faith, who is now mayor of St. Charles.

In the 41^st District in Kansas City, Democrat and community activist Brandon Ellington ran unopposed for the seat previously held by Jean Peters Baker, who is now the Jackson County prosecutor.

In the 83^rd District in St. Louis County, independent candidate Tracy McCreery won in a three-way race with Republican Jeff O’Connell and Democrat Patrick Brennan. McCreery, a former Democratic political aide, had failed to get the nod from her party’s local committee. She replaces Jake Zimmerman, an attorney who was elected St. Louis County’s assessor.

Following the elections, 18 of the House’s 163 members are lawyers. Ten are Republicans and eight are Democrats.