There will be a new Missouri House Speaker Pro Tem in January.

Missouri House Speaker Pro Tem Denny Hoskins (R-Warrensburg)

Missouri House Speaker Pro Tem Denny Hoskins (R-Warrensburg)

State Rep. Denny Hoskins (R-Warrensburg), the current Speaker Pro Tem, cannot seek re-election to his House seat because of term limits. Hoskins, who won Tuesday’s GOP primary for a western Missouri State Senate seat, says the eight-county Senatorial District is a lot of territory to cover.

“I guess the farthest east county would be Howard County in Fayette, Missouri, the farthest south would be Johnson County in Warrensburg, Missouri. The farthest west would be all the way to Richmond and Odessa, and then all the way north to Chillicothe and Hamilton, Missouri,” Hoskins says.

Pro Tem Hoskins tells Missourinet he’e been going door-to-door across the sprawling district, and says voters want the federal government to stop interfering in people’s personal lives.

“Whether it’s been to my daughter’s fifth grade bathroom or the EPA and or farm ponds or just Department of Revenue, they’re asking some of those, or small businesses. So, I think the message has been sent to me very clear the federal government just needs to stay out of our personal lives,” Hoskins says.

Hoskins beat former State Rep. Mike McGhee (R-Odessa) in the primary. Hoskins will face Higginsville Democrat ElGene Ver Dught in November. The winner will replace term-limited State Sen. David Pearce (R-Warrensburg).

The 21st Senatorial District includes Caldwell, Carroll, Howard, Johnson, Lafayette, Livingston, Ray and Saline Counties.