2013 Missouri's 8th congressional district special election

A special election for Missouri's 8th congressional district was held on June 4, 2013, following the resignation of Jo Ann Emerson on January 22, 2013, to head the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.^[2] The Republican and Democratic parties selected their own nominees without a primary.^[3]

2013 Missouri's 8th congressional district special election

← 2012 June 4, 2013 2014 →
Missouri's 8th congressional district
Nominee Jason Smith Steve Hodges Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 42,141[1] 17,207[1] Percentage 67.1% 27.4%
County results Smith:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90% Hodges:      50–60%
U.S. Representative before election Jo Ann Emerson Republican Elected U.S. Representative Jason Smith Republican

The deadline to request an absentee ballot for the special election was May 29, 2013.^[4] A televised candidates' forum took place on May 27, 2013, at Southeast Missouri State University-River Campus; all party candidates participated, while the write-in candidate did not attend.^[5] In the general election on June 4, 2013, Republican Jason Smith received 67.1% of the vote, beating Democrat Steve Hodges (27.4%), Constitutional Doug Enyart (3.6%), and Libertarian Bill Slantz (1.5%).^[6][1]

Candidates

Republican Party

• Jason Smith, speaker pro tem of the Missouri House of Representatives^[7]

Declared/not selected

• Wendell Bailey, former state treasurer of Missouri and U.S. representative^[8]
• Dan W. Brown, state senator^[9]
• Jason Crowell, former state senator^[10]
• Kevin P. Engler, state representative, former state senator, former mayor of Farmington^[9]
• Peter Kinder, lieutenant governor of Missouri^[11]
• Scott Lipke, former state representative^[9]
• Bob Parker, local resident and landowner
• Todd Richardson, state representative^[12]
• Lloyd Smith, State Republican Party executive director^[13]
• Pedro Sotelo, businessman^[14]
• Sarah Steelman, former state treasurer of Missouri^[15]
• Clint Tracy, state representative and United States Navy lieutenant commander^[9]
• John Tyrrell, attorney^[9]
• Wayne Wallingford, state senator, United States Air Force lieutenant colonel and Silver Star recipient^[9]

Declined

• John Jordan, Cape Girardeau County sheriff^[11]

Democratic Party

• Steve Hodges, state representative, District 149^[16][17]

Declared/not selected

• Todd Mahn, businessman^[16][18]
• Linda Black, state representative^[19]
• Jack Rushin, chiropractor and Democratic nominee for the seat in 2012^[16]
• Terry Swinger, former state representative^[19]

Declined

• Russ Carnahan, former U.S. representative^[20]

Libertarian Party

• Bill Slantz, businessman^[21]

Declared/not selected

• Jason Williams (withdrew before party meeting)

Constitution Party

• Doug Enyart, U.S. Marine and professional forester^[22]

Independent/other

• Dr. Robert George (write-in candidate)^[23]
• Thomas Brown (write-in candidate)^[1]
• Wayne L. Byington (write-in candidate)^[1]
• Theo (Ted) Brown, Sr. (write-in candidate)^[1]

General election

Results

2013 Missouri 8th congressional district special election^[1]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jason Smith	42,141	67.1
	Democratic	Steve Hodges	17,207	27.4
	Constitution	Doug Enyart	2,265	3.6
	Libertarian	Bill Slantz	968	1.5
	Write-in		185	0.3
Total votes			62,766	100
	Republican hold

See also

• List of special elections to the United States House of Representatives
• Missouri's 8th congressional district
• 2012 House of Representatives election in Missouri 8th district