When the State Senate returns for the veto session next week, it will be back at 34 members. State Representative Tom Dempsey (R-St. Charles) has won a special election to replace Senator Chuck Gross (R-St. Charles), who resigned after the spring legislative session to take a job in St. Charles County government.

Dempsy had been the House Majority Leader. He got 56 percent of the vote in the special election.

Governor Matt Blunt (R-MO) will call a special election to fill Dempsey’s seat in the House.