After a temporary delay due to a computer glitch, the candidate filing process got underway this morning at the Secretary of State’s office. Before the day ends as many as 300 or more candidates will file for the August 3rd primary election.
A familiar face was first in line, State Rep. Sara Lampe, a Democrat from Springfield. A new computerize system designed to verify identifications and that all paperwork is in order malfunctioned at the beginning of the process, delaying candidate registration by about 15 minutes. Once it was resolved, the line of candidates that snaked around the hallways at the office west of the Capitol in Jefferson City began to move.
Lampe says she got up early to get in line for a simple reason: she had work to do as a member of the House Budget Committee. Lampe is filing for re-election in what would be her last term in the Missouri House if she is successful.
Every seat in the Missouri House is up for election and many state representatives stood in line to register prior to the beginning of the legislative day. Also, every seat in the United States House is up for election. Congressmen Sam Graves, Russ Carnahan and Emanuel Cleaver II waited in line to file for re-election. Congressman Roy Blunt, a Republican from southwest Missouri, is expected to file for the US Senate seat that will become open with the retirement of Senator Bond. Secretary of State Robin Carnahan, a Democrat, is expected to file for the seat this afternoon.
State Auditor also is up for election this year.
