There were some big surprises on Tuesday, November 3. Overall voter turnout was down. The Missouri Republicans who stayed home were essentially voting “no confidence” in the current republican policies of the past 4 years.  Yes, Democrats had a good day, but that was due in part to the conservative agenda being ignored by the MO GOP leadership.

The Missouri House of Representatives’ makeup changed significantly. There are 163 house seats in Missouri.  The Republicans lost their super majority.  109 votes are needed to override a veto and pass an emergency clause.  The 2025-2026 ratio was 111 Republican representatives to 52 Democrat representatives.  16 seats flipped from Republican to Democrat.

Starting in 2027, the State House will have 95 Republican and 68 Democrat representatives.

Alex Riley, R-Springfield, was elected to be the next Speaker of the House.  Ashley Aune, D-Kansas City was re-elected to be the House Democratic floor leader.

The Missouri Senate makeup also changed.  There are 34 senate seats in Missouri.  The Republicans lost their super majority in the senate.  23 votes are needed to override a veto.  The 2025-2026 ratio was 24 Republican senators to 10 Democrat senators.  2 seats flipped from Republican to Democrat.

Senator Jason Bean, a Republican from Holcomb will be the new Senate president pro tem.  Bean told Jason Hancock of the Missouri Independent that the election results made clear the party needs to reassess its approach.

“They weren’t real fond of what we’ve been doing,” Bean said of voters. “So we’re going to look at changes.”

Newly elected majority floor leader Nick Schroer, R-St Charles County, was more direct: “Republicans lost because they failed to deliver on their promises, not because their agenda was too conservative.”

Senate Democrats chose Senator Stephen Webber of Columbia as their new minority floor leader. Webber told the Independent: “Voters are screaming that they don’t like what Republicans are doing in Jefferson City.”

Democrats believe the results of Tuesday’s elections are a rejection of the Republican agenda. The question is which Republicans?  The majority of Missourians who identify as conservative republicans believe in low taxes, small government, less regulations, the second amendment and are pro life.   The Missouri Republican party platform mirrors those values.   The past 6 years of Republican legislation and governing has not mirrored those values.   The landslide failures of Amendment 4 and 5 in August prove the point.  Both ballot measures were pushed by the republican leadership. 83% voted no on Amendment 5 on August 4.  That is a bi-partisan super majority of citizens rejecting their big government proposals. 

On Tuesday November 3, voters faced 5 ballot measures. Four came from the current Republican leadership.  Of the 4, only Amendment 8, the constitutional sheriff bill passed.  No surprise there.  Missouri citizens from both sides of the aisle support having county sheriffs in Missouri. 

Amendment 7 failed 39% yes to 60% no. It would have created an endowment fund for the state government. Proposition A failed 38% yes to 61% no.  It would have redrawn the congressional district lines in between the census. Once again a bipartisan majority rejected these proposals as bad policy.

Amendment 3 failed because it was a poorly written, confusing multi subject bill that many voters did not believe would do what the proponents claimed it would. One voter said: “I feel like I would be doing the wrong thing whether I voted yes or no on A3, so I voted no.”   Some prolife folks are angry it failed, but your anger should be directed at the legislator authors who put such a bad bill on the ballot.

Amendment 6 passed 60% yes to 40% no.  A6 puts restraints on Missouri legislators’ ability to change what the people pass in ballot measures.  60% is a bipartisan majority that illustrates how little trust Missouri voters now have in our state legislators. 

Election season is over now and we move to legislative season.

Senator Bean and Representative Riley:  Here are some tips to be successful in 2027: 

One subject per bill.  Let each issue live and die on its own merits.  Once a bill is filed, do not allow the title or purpose to be changed.  These are 2 good ideas that a super majority of Missouri voters agree with and its Missouri law in Article 3 of the constitution.

Turn on the cameras in the Senate. 48 other states allow citizens to watch the proceedings live. Transparency is a good first step to restoring trust from Missouri voters.

Pass a balanced budget that does not use tricks and leftover COVID money. 

“We believe government governs best when it governs least. There are only a few things we need the government to do for us; but it should do those things well and faithfully.”  - from the Missouri Republican party platform.    Let that be your mission statement for 2027.

In Jefferson City, bill Pre-filing begins on Tuesday, December 1, 2026.