Adrian Plank wins 'crazy close' Democratic nomination for the 47th Missouri House District

Roger McKinney, Columbia Daily Tribune
·2 min read
Adrian Plank, Democratic candidate for state representative District 47, looks at early election results with his campaign manager Elisabeth Condon and Savannah Rodgers, 8, on Tuesday at Community Property Management. Plank narrowly won with 2,325 votes to Chimene Schwach’s 2,277.
Adrian Plank, Democratic candidate for state representative District 47, looks at early election results with his campaign manager Elisabeth Condon and Savannah Rodgers, 8, on Tuesday at Community Property Management. Plank narrowly won with 2,325 votes to Chimene Schwach’s 2,277.

In a close result Tuesday, Adrian Plank bested Chimene Schwach by 48 votes to win the Democratic nomination for the 47th Missouri House District.

The final but unofficial primary tally was Plank with 2,325 votes and Schwach with 2,277.

"That was crazy close," Plank said. "Chimene did well. She's got to be really proud of her campaign. She did good."

Plank, a union carpenter, advances to the Nov. 8 general election to face Republican John Martin, who was unopposed Tuesday.

More: Boone County Republicans select Connie Leipard as nominee for presiding commissioner

Martin is the owner of Pro Pumping & Hydrojetting, in operation for more than 40 years.

This is Plank's third campaign for the House seat.

Incumbent State Rep. Chuck Basye, R-Rocheport, couldn't run again because of term limits.

More: Roy Lovelady 'ecstatic' after defeating incumbent Karl Skala for Columbia City Council

The goal is to flip the district to be held by a Democrat, Plank said.

It's going to take all Democrats working together, he said.

"We've got to do the work," Plank said. "We've got a good chance to win it."

Schwach was asked about the meaning of such a close vote.

"We connected with voters and we spent less money," Schwach said.

Chimene Schwach, Democratic candidate for state representative District 47, looks at early election results with her friend Tonya Ford on Tuesday during Schwach’s election watch party at her home. Schwach ran against Adrian Plank, who won with 2,325 votes to Schwach’s 2,277.
Chimene Schwach, Democratic candidate for state representative District 47, looks at early election results with her friend Tonya Ford on Tuesday during Schwach’s election watch party at her home. Schwach ran against Adrian Plank, who won with 2,325 votes to Schwach’s 2,277.

She knew it would be difficult as a Black woman running for office without big money backing her, she said.

"I'm really proud of running a clean campaign," she said.

More: Kayla Jackson-Williams primed to become Boone County family court judge

Her focus now is on Democrats retaking District 47, she said.

The district has been redrawn to be contained within Boone County. It comprises northwest Boone County including Harrisburg, Rocheport, most of Columbia's Fourth Ward and a small part of the Fifth Ward.

The voting-age population of the district is nearly 50% Democratic and nearly 47% Republican.

Roger McKinney is the education reporter for the Tribune. You can reach him at rmckinney@columbiatribune.com or 573-815-1719.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Adrian Plank wins nomination for the 47th House District by 48 votes