Voters in Phelps County will head to the polls on Nov. 3 for the midterm elections to select the individuals who will represent Phelps County at national, statewide and local levels. Voters will also decide whether to adopt four potential amendments to Missouri’s state constitution and which congressional district map the state will use going forward.

For State Auditor, Republican incumbent Scott Fitzpatrick, who has served in the role since 2023, is seeking reelection. Fitzpatrick previously served as Missouri State Treasurer from 2019-23 and represented Missouri’s 158th District in the Missouri House of Representatives from 2013-19.

Fitzpatrick is being challenged by Democratic candidate Quentin Wilson, who has held leadership positions in several state agencies. Wilson previously served as the director of the Missouri Department of Revenue from 1998-01. He was also the director of the Governor’s Cabinet from 2001 until 2002 under Governor Bob Holden.

Libertarian Party candidate Dustin Coffell is also seeking the office of State Auditor. Coffell works as an accountant and serves as the chairman of the Missouri Libertarian Party.

For State Representative of the 122nd District, Republican Party candidate and incumbent Tara Peters, who was elected to her first term in 2022, is seeking reelection.

She is being challenged by Democratic Party candidate Dan Victor for the 122nd District seat. 

For U.S. Representative for Missouri’s 8th Congressional District, Republican incumbent Jason T. Smith, who has served in the role since 2013, is seeking reelection.

She is being challenged by Democratic Party candidate and Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran Chris Reichard and Libertarian Party candidate Rebecca Sharpe Lombard.

Virginia Staabs, a longtime notary public and signing agent and founder of the civic organization “What’s Up in Missouri Elections,” is running as the Democratic Party’s candidate for State Senator in Missouri’s 16th District. She is being challenged by Republican Party candidate Bill Hardwick, who has served as a state representative for Missouri’s 121st District since 2020.

For State Representative in Missouri’s 143rd District, Republican Party candidate and incumbent Bennie Cook, who has served in the role since 2020, is seeking reelection. He is being challenged by Democratic Party candidate Marsha Snodgrass.

Republican Kenneth G. Clayton, is running unopposed for the position of Associate Circuit Judge Division 1 and Probate Judge for Phelps County, a position in which he has served for seven years.

Republican Carolyn Buschjost is also running unopposed for the Associate Circuit Judge Division 2 seat.

Republican Party candidate and incumbent Joey Auxier is seeking reelection as presiding commissioner of the Phelps County Commission, a role he has held since 2023.

Auxier is being challenged by Democratic Party candidate Bill Lindgren.

Marliana Wallace, a Republican, is running unchallenged for reelection as the Clerk of the Circuit Court.

Republican Laura Johnson is running unopposed for reelection as the Clerk of the County Commission.

Republican Joshua Meyer is running unopposed for Phelps County Recorder of Deeds.

Republican Faith Barnes is running unchallenged for Collector of Revenue.

Republican Taylor Banholzer is running unchallenged for Phelps County Prosecuting Attorney.

Republican Cathy Tipton is running unopposed for Phelps County Treasurer.

Voters are also facing four proposed amendments to the Missouri State Constitution that would have major impacts on the governance, structure and finance of the state government.

Amendment 3, if passed, would amend the Missouri Constitution to repeal existing reproductive actions approved by voters in 2024. The amendment would prohibit abortions, except in cases of “rape and incest (under twelve-weeks gestation), emergencies and fetal anomalies.” It would also prohibit gender transition surgery, hormone therapy, and puberty-blocking medication for minors.

A “yes” vote on Amendment 3 would repeal Article 1, Sect. 36 of the Missouri Constitution, essentially reinstating post-2024 rules that followed Roe v. Wade restrictions. It would additionally prohibit gender-affirming procedures for minors, including surgery, cross-sex hormones or puberty-blocking drugs. A 2023 law banned reaffirming-gender procedures for minors. It is set to expire in 2027.

A “no” vote will leave access to abortion available through fetal viability. Missouri state statute defines fetal development as when a child may live outside of the womb naturally or with life support equipment.

The measure will not affect taxes if passed.

Amendment 6, if passed, would amend the Missouri Constitution to enshrine citizen-led initiatives and referendum processes as fundamental rights. The amendment would prohibit the state legislature from repealing or changing a citizen initiative unless 80 percent of both the House and the Senate approve doing so. Then, voters would have to approve the change.

The measure would also prevent lawmakers from making the initiative process more restrictive by changing signature requirements, limiting the time available to collect signatures or imposing additional barriers to placing measures on the ballot. Existing signature thresholds and simple-majority voting requirements would remain in place. A “yes” vote would support the changes, while a “no” vote would oppose them.

  Amendment 7, if passed, would create a permanent public endowment fund, initially funded by the state legislature, with the intention that the fund would eventually generate enough revenue to support the state government without state-imposed taxes on Missouri residents. A “no” vote would oppose the creation of the fund.

Amendment 8, if passed, would amend the state constitution to require that county sheriffs be elected to four-year terms in most counties across the state. The amendment would also prohibit the removal of a county sheriff from office, except by a “writ of quo warranto,” a legal challenge that would be initiated by the state attorney general. Currently, both county prosecutors and the state attorney general have the authority to do so.

Proposition A is a referendum on Missouri’s congressional maps. A “yes” vote would uphold a newer congressional map drawn in 2025. A “no” vote would repeal the congressional maps drawn in 2025, keeping intact the congressional map drawn in 2022.

Voters will also decide whether or not to retain two judges whose terms expire at the end of the year.

Missouri Supreme Court Justice Paul C. Wilson, who was appointed to the court in 2012, is seeking reappointment.

Judge Matthew P. Hamner of the Southern District Court of Appeals, who assumed the office in 2024, is also seeking another term.

A majority of members of the Missouri Judicial Performance Review Committee, a 21-member body of judges that evaluates the performance of Missouri judges, have recommended that both Wilson and Hamner be retained.