Politics & Government

Carnahan Opts For Clay Challenge, Weber Files

Tuesday's opening of filing for state and congressional races draws out candidates.

U.S. Rep. Russ Carnahan ended months of speculation Tuesday by formally filing to run in the newly-redrawn first congressional district, setting up a primary fight against incumbent Rep. William Lacy Clay.

Carnahan had to decide whether to run in the first, or in the redrawn second district, after the redistricting process drew his third district into extinction.

The Missouri Supreme Court has yet to rule on challenges to those maps, as well as newly redrawn State Senate boundaries. According to KMOX, Carnahan has not ruled out the possibility of refiling once the courts rule.

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Both Carnahan and Clay are Democrats, so the two will face off in a primary election Aug. 7.

Other candidates for the first district office include: Candice Britton, (D-St. Louis); Martin Baker (R-St. Louis); and Robyn Hamlin (R-St. Louis).

Find out what's happening in Eureka-Wildwoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

As of this writing, three political candidates have filed for the second district seat:  George Weber (D-Eureka), a longtime resident and blogger of Eureka-Wildwood Patch; John Morris (R-St. Peters); and James O'Baker (R-St. Peters).

Local candidate Weber was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives in 1964, and was a Democrat nominee in the second congressional district in 2004 and 2006. , dealing with fundraiser and organizer Ross Perot and fellow candidate Donald Trump, who eventually dropped out of the race.

Weber said the biggest surprise was the filing itself, when it went up to the last few hours of not knowing if it would take place, or be delayed for a time. "There was, as usual, a large group waiting in line, and showed the value of commuters to keep the information flowing from one station to another," he said.

"We drew random numbers for position on the ballot, if more than one person filed," he said. 

"I hope to be the only Democrat (candidate) now that Russ Carnahan has filed in the District against Congressman Clay."

Click here to link to the Missouri Secretary of State's website listing which candidates have filed.

Former RNC Co-Chair Ann Wagner and Webster Groves doctor Randy Jotte have been actively campaigning for the seat. Wagner has built impressive fundraising totals and endorsements from national GOP figures but was recently


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