Missourians narrowed down the field in Democratic and Republican races for various offices Tuesday. Winners of the August primary advanced to November's general election. One Senate seat, each of the eight congressional districts and statewide executive offices were up for a vote. A constitutional amendment was also voted upon. The secretary of state's office posted unofficial election night returns on Missouri's new results website.
Who will face incumbent Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill in November?
Rep. Todd Akin, a Republican in Congress since 2001, defeated two main challengers. Although the race featured eight candidates on the Republican side, Akin's main opponents were former state treasurer Sarah Steelman and St. Louis businessman John Brunner. Akin won with more than 217,000 votes. Brunner came in second with nearly 181,000 votes. Steelman came in third with more than 176,000 tallies.
Steelman's showing can be seen as a reflection of waning tea party influence as Sarah Palin endorsed Steelman and even spoke at a rally Friday before the election. Akin is from suburban St. Louis and has been in Congress since 2001, according to the Associated Press.
Who won between Rep. Lacy Clay and Rep. Russ Carnahan?
After redistricting took Missouri's congressional seats from nine down to eight, one district near St. Louis was partially combined with another. The result was two incumbents facing off against each other in what is still one of the most liberal areas of Missouri, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Rep. Lacy Clay and Rep. Russ Carnahan, both Democrats, met in the primary for the new 1st District.
Clay earned more than 63 percent of the votes to Carnahan's 34 percent. The margin was nearly 27,000 votes. Clay will face Republican Robyn Hamlin in November after Hamlin earned more than 9,700 votes against Martin Baker.
What about the prayer amendment?
Missourians overwhelming adopted Constitutional Amendment 2 , a measure that supports the rights of all Missouri citizens to pray in public. The Missouri General Assembly placed the measure on the ballot that allows citizens to pray in public spaces such as schools and government buildings. One stipulation in the language of the amendment allows students to opt out of lessons they find to be against their religious teachings. Out of more than 942,000 tallies, Missourians voted "yes" more than 779,000 times to just 162,000 "no" votes on the amendment.
Who won for statewide offices at the executive level?
Incumbent Gov. Jay Nixon earned more than 269,000 votes in his bid for re-election. Nixon overwhelmingly defeated two Democratic opponents with 86 percent of the vote. Dave Spence will face Nixon after winning nearly 60 percent of his party's approval with more than 333,000 votes.
A crowded field of eight Democrats wanted to become a candidate for lieutenant governor. Susan Montee earned more than 131,000 votes, or 45 percent. Her nearest challenger was Judy Baker with more than 46,000 votes, or 16 percent. On the Republican side, incumbent Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder earned nearly 255,000 votes in a narrow victory over Brad Lager with more than 239,500 tallies. Kinder was a candidate for governor before dropping out of the race following several scandals, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
William Browning, a lifelong Missouri resident, writes about local and state issues for the Yahoo! Contributor Network. Born in St. Louis, Browning earned his bachelor's degree in English from the University of Missouri. He currently resides in Branson.
