VIENNA — The race to become Maries County’s next sheriff added one more participant before the filing deadline for the August primary closed last week.

Buddy Thompson joined a field of Republican candidates that also includes Timothy “T.J.” Halle, Scott John and Mark Morgan. The sheriff’s election is the only contested primary at the county level. Sheriff Chris Heitman announced his retirement from the position last year.

The general election will feature one contested race. Incumbent Democrat Coroner David Martin faces a challenger for the first time in his nearly 50 years in office. Republican Tom Tramel signed up for the election on the last day of filing.

All other county races are uncontested. The incumbents are Eastern District Commissioner Doug Drewel, Western District Commissioner Ed Fagre and Assessor Dana Simmons. Democrat Amanda Sandbothe was the only candidate to file for public administrator, which is currently Carol Jo Schulte.

Maries County voters will also have two congressional seats on the ballot in the August primary and November general elections.

Republican Congressman Blaine Luektemeyer announced his retirement at the end of his term, which leaves the race to replace him as Representative of Missouri’s 3rd House District wide open.

The Republican primary for Luektemeyer’s seat features a crowded field of eight candidates. They are Arnie C. “AC Arn” Dienoff of O’Fallon, Chad Bicknell of Arnold, Kyle Bone of De Soto, Brandon Wilkinson of Fenton, former state Sen. Bob Onder of O’Fallon, former state Sen. Kurt Schaefer of Columbia, state Rep. Justin Hicks of Wentzville and Bruce A. Bowman of Jefferson City.

Two candidates are running in the Democratic primary: Bethany Mann of Wentzville and Andrew Daly of Fulton.

Jordan Rowden of Vienna is running as a Libertarian.

Incumbent Republican Sen. Josh Hawley faces four Democratic challengers. State Sen. Karla May of St. Louis, activist December Harmon of Columbia, attorney Lucas Kunce of Independence and Mita Biswas of St. Louis. One Libertarian, W.C. Young, is also running.

Six state offices are on the ballot this year. The busiest primary for both Republicans and Democrats will be the race to be Missouri’s next governor after Gov. Mike Parson reached his two-term limit.

A group of nine Republicans has filed for their party’s primary, however, that number could shrink pending the outcome of a lawsuit filed by the Missouri Republican Party, which seeks to remove Darrell Leon McClanahan III of Milo, a candidate affiliated with the Ku Klux Klan, from the party’s primary. The other eight candidates are Jeremy Gundel of Washburn, state Sen. Bill Eigel of Weldon Spring, Robert James Olson of Springfield, Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft of Bolivar, Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe of Jefferson City, Darren L. Grant of Maryland Heights and Amber Thomsen of Hollister.

Five Democrats are running for governor: Eric Morrison of Lee’s Summit, state House Minority Leader Crystal Quade of Springfield, Sheryl Gladney of St. Charles, Hollis L. Laster of Normandy and Mike Hamra of Springfield.

Libertarian Bill Slantz of St. Charles is also running.

Six Republicans are running to replace Kehoe as lieutenant governor after he reached his two-term limit. They are state Sen. Holly Rehder of Scott City, Dave Wasinger of Des Peres, state Sen. Lincoln Hough of Springfield, Paul Berry III of Maryland Heights, Franklin County Clerk Tim Baker of Robertsville and Matthew E. Porter of St. Charles.

Two Democrats, state Rep. Richard Brown of Kansas City and Anastasia Syes of St. Louis, and one Libertarian, Ken Iverson of Lake St. Louis, are running for lieutenant governor.

Eight Republicans are running to replace Ashcroft as secretary of state after he reached his two-term limit. They are Valentina Gomez of St. Louis, Greene County Clerk Shane Schoeller of Willard, state Sen. Denny Hoskins of Warrensburg, state Rep. Adam J. Schwadron of St. Charles, Jamie Corley of St. Louis, state Speaker of the House Dean Plocher of Clayton, state Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman of Jefferson City and Mike Carter of St. Charles.

Three Democrats are running for secretary of state. They are Monique Williams, state Rep. Barbara Phifer and Haley Jacobson, all of St. Louis.

Libertarian Carl Herman Freese of Foristell is also running.

Incumbent Republican Treasurer Vivek Malek faces five challengers in the primary as he runs for election for the first time. He began a partial term as treasurer at the end of 2022 after Scott Fitzpatrick won the election as state auditor. State Rep. Cody Smith of Carthage, state Sen. Andrew Koenig of Manchester, Lori Rook of Springfield, Tina Goodrick of St. Joseph and Karan Pujji of Berkeley are the other Republican candidates.

Democrat Mark Osmack of Manchester and Libertarian John A. Hartwig, Jr. of Clayton are also running for treasurer.

Incumbent Republican Attorney General Andrew Bailey faces one challenger in the primary as he runs for his first election for the position. He began a partial term as attorney general in early 2023 after Eric Schmitt won election to the U.S. Senate. The other Republican running is Will Scharf of Richmond Heights.

Democrat Elad Jonathan Gross of St. Louis and Libertarian Ryan L. Munro of St. Louis are also running for attorney general.