Missouri appears largely immune from the potential blue wave brewing in congressional races elsewhere, though a first-time candidate is hoping his health care-focused campaign can flip one suburban St. Louis seat to Democrats.
Incumbents are expected to coast to re-election in seven of Missouri's eight congressional districts, five of them staunchly Republican. Democrats, though, see an opportunity in the 2nd District, where 30-year-old Cort VanOstran is taking on three-term Republican Rep. Ann Wagner.
It's unclear what sort of shot lawyer Cort VanOstran really has. Wagner has the advantage of incumbency, better name recognition, and a huge edge in money.
Still, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee recently put it among Republican-held seats targeted for takeover.