State Republican candidates visit St. Joseph ahead of Election Day

By Leah Rainwater

With a week until Election Day, two Republicans campaigning for statewide office stopped in St. Joseph Tuesday to make their case to voters.

Missouri Treasurer Vivek Malek is running for election to keep his job after being appointed to the post by Gov. Mike Parson in 2023, and he was joined by Missouri Senator Denny Hoskins, who hopes to be Missouri’s next Secretary of State. The two have been traveling together on their last few campaign stops in Missouri and were at the St. Joseph GOP Headquarters on Tuesday afternoon to answer questions.

The candidates spoke on several issues, but Amendment 7 is one both are adamant about.

“We have been going across the state making sure that people understand all of the different amendments,” Malek said. “There’s also an Amendment 7, which is important because it’s a two-part amendment, which basically talks about, first, only citizens should vote. And second, it talks about we do not want ranked choice voting in the state of Missouri.”

Hoskins said the duo has been spreading the word about election integrity.

“I’ve always said that I believe the most safe and secure elections are in-person on Election Day with a photo ID and a paper ballot,” Hoskins said. “So election security is very, very important. And some people have asked, ‘Why are you running for secretary of state?’ Well, I think it all starts and ends with our elections.”

Hoskins will end his campaign stops in Sedalia, Missouri, and Malek will conclude his in St. Louis.