The day that some lawmakers thought might not happen is happening today.

This is the last day for candidates to file for statewide and legislative offices. Uncertainty about legal challenges to legislative and congressional districts at one time led the legislture to consider delaying the closing of filing…But it never happened.

Secretary of State spokesman Ryan Hobart expects a slight surge in candidate filings today. He says more than 500 candidates have filed so far. Hobart says that’s about average for a presidential election year.

The state supreme court has not ruled on the legality of districts for the Missouri and the U. S. House. The Secretary of State will accept filers in the most recently-created districts.

The field of Republican challengers to Governor Nixon grew to four on the next-to-last day for filing with the filing of Fred Sauer of St. Louis, who is best known for leading fights against stem cell resarch. One notable withdawal the sme day is that of Senator Jane Cunningham, one of the legislature’s strongest conservative voices. Her senatorial district was eliminated int he recent reapportionment. She had filed in another district but has withdrawn.

AUDIO: Ryan Hobart interview