On Thursday, Missouri had some big news. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer announced he will not seek reelection. He is currently serving his eighth term as a member of Congress.
Luetkemeyer stated in a statement that:
It has been an honor to serve these great people of Missouri’s Third Congressional District over the past few years. After a long and thoughtful discussion with my wife, I decided not to run for reelection. Instead, I will retire in December at the end of my current term. As I complete my final term, I am looking forward to working with my constituents to address their many issues and tackle the serious and difficult problems facing our country. There’s still a lot of work to be done.
As we take on the challenges ahead, I hope that we will remember the words of someone who once said: “The greatness of our nation is not found in Congress but in the homes and hearts of our people.” That assessment still holds today. Looking to the future, if we stay united, work hard, and believe in ourselves, our best days may still be ahead.
Since 2009, the 71-year-old Jefferson City native has represented Missouri in Washington, D.C. Originally, the Ninth Congressional District was his, but after the 2010 Census, redistricting reduced Missouri’s delegation to eight, and expanded the Third District. This district now covers most of east-central Missouri including the northwest suburbs of St. Louis. It is my district and therefore of special interest to me. Before his congressional tenure, the farmer/banker/insurance agent served in the Missouri legislature and also as the state’s Tourism Director.
Luetkemeyer is currently the chair of the Subcommittee on National Security and Illicit Finance (House Financial Services Committee) and serves on both the House Small Business Committee as well as the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party.
Luetkemeyer intends to finish his term. However, his announcement on Thursday was a bit surprising and caused a rush among Missouri politicians to vie to be his successor. Missouri is already preparing for a busy primary season. Three candidates are running for the governorship, and other offices statewide.
The Third District, which is the most red of Missouri’s districts, will have a fierce primary contest. The winner of the primary will get a long career in Washington. The announcement in January will spark a rush of activity from potential candidates as the August primary draws near. Nick Schroer is one of those candidates whose name was already mentioned. He’s a member of the Missouri Freedom Caucus and has a reputation as a conservative with a rock-ribbed stance.
Nick is a fellow NewsTalkSTL host and a good friend. After Nick’s name was floated as a potential candidate to replace Luetkemeyer I reached out to ask his opinion on a possible congressional run. Nick’s response:
Many of us were shocked to hear about Congressman Luetkemeyer. As I wish him well in his retirement, and thank him profusely for his storied career as a representative of Missouri, this news comes at a crucial time for us to ensure that our state has liberty defenders willing to fight in Washington DC for our rights. Ronald Reagan said that freedom is only a generation away from extinction. Unfortunately, our generation must save the republic and risk losing it forever. In the next few days, I will speak with my family and supporters to determine if this is the best decision for not only our family but also our state. The 3rd district must elect a constitutional conservative who not only understands our constitutional rights but is also able to protect our nation and state without expanding the government.
There will be many candidates for CD3, given its size (and color). It’s going to be interesting to see.
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