Women are running for office in record-breaking numbers nationally, and Missouri is no exception. The choice for state senate in two Mid-Missouri districts includes a first-time progressive candidate challenging a Republican candidate.
In Missouri’s State Senate District 6, Democratic candidate Nicole Thompson is challenging Republican Representative Mike Bernskoetter as he seeks to transition from the Missouri House, as he is term-limited out. The 6th district senate seat is currently vacant.
Thompson has worked as an occupational health and safety consultant for the past decade, and in a conversation with KBIA’s Zia Kelly she said so far when talking with Missourians in the 6th district, she doesn’t see a big difference between red counties and blue counties. “We all have the same values,” she said, “in the end.”
Meanwhile, the race for Missouri’s 10th Senate seat also features a progressive female candidate in this largely rural district. Ayanna Shivers is a taking on Republican incumbent Senator Jeanie Riddle. Shivers is a pastor, a school counselor, and a city councilmember in Mexico, Missouri, and this is her first time running for state office.
She told KBIA’s Janet Saidi that access is a key issue she hears about from Missourians in Audrain County and the 10th district – access to health care, to jobs, even to the internet. Like Thompson, Shivers said her focus is on “people not politics,” which means listening to “and collaborating with people from all parties.”
