State senator ousted

One state senator has been beaten in his bid for a last term. Senator Jerry Howard of Dexter has been ousted by republican Bill Foster. Also, the victory of Senator Joe Maxwell in the lieutenant governor’s race leaves 16 of the 31 remaining state senators republicans. It’s what is called a “submajority.” At full strength, the senate has 34 members, and it takes 18 votes to pass a bill. Special elections will be needed to fill the holes. For more detailed election returns, see the Missouri secretary of state’s website at http://sosweb.sos.state.mo.us/enrweb/.