OSAGE COUNTY — Osage County Republican Central Committee (OCRC) members voted recently to reject Presiding Commissioner Darryl Griffin’s 2026 candidacy under the Republican label, according to a press release issued by the committee. This rejection is final.

According to OCRC Chairwoman Linda Rantz, the decision is based on Griffin’s long-standing refusal to complete the required vetting process, failure to remit the filing fee to the committee treasurer, and his stated intent to bypass the committee’s bylaws. “We have been informed that Griffin does not intend to participate in vetting, and is reportedly planning to use county taxpayer funds to challenge the committee’s authority, including hiring legal counsel,” she noted in a press release. “This use of public money is particularly troubling in an election year when Osage County voters will decide on two initiatives aimed at easing the tax burden on residents and seniors. At a time when the county is considering ways to lower taxes and support our community, spending taxpayer dollars to avoid a free vetting process raises serious questions about fiscal responsibility and conservative principles.”

According to the OCRC, vetting is a free, straightforward process to ensure candidates align with the Missouri Republican Party. “It protects the Republican label and voter trust,” said Rantz, noting that Missouri law and U.S. Supreme Court precedent affirm that political parties have the right to control who may use their name on the ballot, including rejecting unwanted associations.

Interim County Clerk Brooke Dudenhoeffer said Griffin had paid his filing fee. “Presiding Commissioner Griffin filed all of the paperwork required by state statute, including the filing fee, which I remitted to the committee treasurer via certified mail within 4 business days,” Dudenhoeffer said. “I have included a certified mail receipt and tracking number, as well as the receipt for his payment, for your review.”

The Presiding Commissioner denied any intent or statements regarding using taxpayer funds to challenge the Republican Committee. “I never said anything like that,” Griffin said.”I would never use taxpayer money like that. I’ve never even submitted mileage for all the meetings I go to.” Griffin said he had done everything Dudenhoeffer said was required, including payment of the filing fee.

OCRC remains open to any candidate who completes vetting by the March 29 deadline. Conservatives interested in running as Republicans are encouraged to start the process on the committee’s candidate vetting page.

On March 2, the OCRC filed a formal election complaint with the Missouri Secretary of State Elections Division alleging that Osage County Clerk Brooke Dudenhoeffer willfully neglected or refused to perform her statutory duty under RsMO 115.357 to promptly forward filing fees from Republican candidates to the OCRC treasurer.

The complaint alleges that Dudenhoeffer accepted filing fees from multiple candidates filing as Republicans on Feb. 24 and possibly thereafter.

Rantz noted in the filing that Dudenhoeffer has stated she is “just doing what I’m told” by external counsel and a commissioner.

Further, the complaint asserts that no filing fees had been received by the Treasurer as of March 2, despite email communication between Rantz and Dudenhoeffer regarding statutory requirements and a discussion of the vetting process. The United States Postal Service website shows that the certified mail sent by Dudenhoeffer, which she said contained the filing fees, was received by the post office on March 2 and was available for pickup by the recipient on March 3. RSMo. 115.357 asserts “All sums submitted to the official accepting the candidate’s declaration of candidacy shall be forwarded promptly by the official to the treasurer of the appropriate party committee,” but does not specify a timeframe.

The full complaint and attachments are available for public review at https://osagecountyrepublicans.com.