Federal and state elections in Missouri this fall will feature the lowest number of candidates in at least a couple of decades. A total of 429 candidates filed for federal and state offices before yesterday's deadline.
The highest profile state office to be elected this fall is that of the state auditor. Incumbent auditor Tom Schweich is seeking his second four-year term, but will not face any Democratic or Republican opposition.
Schweich's only challengers are Libertarian Sean O'Toole and Constitution Party candidate Rodney Farthing.
Schweich's campaign team said this marks the first time since at least 1878 that Democrats have failed to field a candidate for a statewide office in Missouri.
Missouri's 2014 ballot will include races for half the state Senate and all of Missouri's U.S. and state House seats. There is no election for U.S. Senate, governor or most other statewide executive offices.