Missouri Republican Party

History

Francis Preston Blair Jr. was the only Republican member of congress from a border state at the beginning of the American Civil War. However, he proposed that the state party instead merge with unionist Whigs and Democrats to form the Union Party.

Blair and other Unionists in Missouri supported the removal of John C. Frémont's military command and the rescinding of his emancipation order. However, B. Gratz Brown, the former chair, supported Frémont. Blair and Brown disagreed on gradual compensated emancipation and slave colonization with Blair in support and Brown in opposition.

The Radical Republicans, including Brown, held a separate convention in 1864. They sent an uncommitted delegation to the 1864 National Union National Convention which was seated. Brown wanted to send a delegation to Frémont's Radical Democratic convention. This delegation was the only one to vote against Lincoln.

The Radical wrote the state constitution in 1865, which emancipated slaves while Blair returned to the Democratic Party.

Members of the party left to form the Liberal Republican Party. Brown, their gubernatorial nominee, won the 1870 election.

After around 58% of Missouri voters approved November 2024 Proposition A to introduce a Missouri law to mandate that most employers are to provide sick leave to employees and also raise the minimum wage in line with inflation, Missouri's Republican lawmakers responded in May 2025 by repealing those portions of Proposition A, pending governor approval.

Current Republican officeholders

File:Josh Hawley, official portrait, 116th congress.jpg|Senior U.S. Senator Josh Hawley File:Sen. Eric Schmitt, official portrait, 118th Congress (slight crop).jpg|Junior U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt

Members of Congress

U.S. Senate

• Josh Hawley
• Eric Schmitt

U.S. House of Representatives

• Ann Wagner, 2nd District
• Bob Onder, 3rd District
• Mark Alford, 4th District
• Sam Graves, 6th District
• Eric Burlison, 7th District
• Jason T. Smith, 8th District

Statewide offices

• Governor: Mike Kehoe
• Lieutenant Governor: David Wasinger
• Attorney General: Catherine Hanaway
• Secretary of State: Denny Hoskins
• State Auditor: Scott Fitzpatrick
• State Treasurer: Vivek Malek

References

Works cited

References

1. (February 1, 2025). "Former Missouri Lt. Gov. Kinder wins race for state Republican Party chairman".
2. (May 15, 2025). "Missouri voters approved sick leave for workers. Republicans just voted to repeal it". The Kansas City Star.