Missouri's first state senate district is represented by Democratic Senator Scott Sifton.

Missouri state senators represent an average of 176,145 residents. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 164,565 residents.

About the office

Members of the Missouri State Senate serve four-year terms with a limit of two terms. Half of the Senate is up for re-election every two years. Missouri legislators assume office the first day of the legislative session.

Qualifications

To be eligible to serve in the Missouri State Senate, a candidate must be:

• At least 30 years of age
• Qualified Missouri voter for three years before election
• Resident of the district which he is chosen to represent for 1 year before election
• Is not delinquent in the payment of any state income taxes, personal property taxes, real property taxes on the place of residence as stated in the declaration of candidacy
• Is not a past or present corporate officer of any fee office that owes any taxes to the state.
• Has not been found guilty of or pleaded guilty to a felony or misdemeanor under the federal laws of the United States of America.
• Has not been convicted of or found guilty of or pleaded guilty to a felony under the laws of Missouri.
• In addition to any other penalties provided by law, no person may file for any office in a subsequent election until he or the treasurer of his existing candidate committee has filed all required campaign disclosure reports for all prior elections.

Salaries

Term limits

The Missouri legislature is one of 15 state legislatures with term limits. Voters enacted the Missouri Term Limits Act in 1992. That initiative said that Missouri senators are subject to term limits of no more than two four-year terms, or a total of eight years.

The first year that the 1992 term limits impacted the ability of incumbents to run for office was in 2002.

Vacancies

If a vacancy occurs in the senate, the Governor must call for a special election. There is no time limit specified under law. The mandate for a special election is sent to the election authority in the county that first established the legislative district.

Elections

2020

Elections for the office of Missouri State Senate will take place in 2020. The general election will be held on November 3, 2020. A primary is scheduled for August 4, 2020. The filing deadline is March 31, 2020.

2016

Elections for the Missouri State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election was held on August 2, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was March 29, 2016.

Incumbent Scott Sifton defeated Randy Jotte in the Missouri State Senate District 1 general election.

Missouri State Senate, District 1 General Election, 2016

Incumbent Scott Sifton ran unopposed in the Missouri State Senate District 1 Democratic primary.
Randy Jotte ran unopposed in the Missouri State Senate District 1 Republican primary.

This district was included in the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee's list of "2016 Essential Races." Read more »

2012

Elections for the office of Missouri State Senate consisted of a primary election on August 7, 2012 and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 27, 2012. Scott Sifton (D) defeated incumbent Jim Lembke (R) in the general election. Sifton defeated Sue Schoemehl in the Democratic primary. Lembke was unopposed in the Republican primary.

Missouri State Senate, District 1, General Election, 2012

Missouri State Senate, District 1 Democratic Primary, 2012

Campaign contributions

From 2004 to 2016, candidates for Missouri State Senate District 1 raised a total of $6,031,779. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $376,986 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Missouri State Senate District 1