Longtime Republican incumbent Blaine Luetkemeyer faces political newcomer and Democratic challenger Bethany Mann in the race for Missouri's 3rd Congressional District.
After defeating opponents in August's primary elections, Luetkemeyer and Mann are now turning attention to the general election Nov. 8. A U.S. Representative is a two-year, full-time position with an annual salary of approximately $174,000.
The 3rd Congressional District sprawls from the eastern border of the state north of St. Louis to the western edge of Cooper County. It encompasses part or all of 16 counties and has a population of about 769,364, according to the state's redistricting office.
Luetkemeyer, a St. Elizabeth native, has represented the district since 2009 and has picked up at least 65 percent of the district's vote in every election since 2014. He defeated three Republican primary opponents with more than 69 percent of the vote in August.
A businessman in the banking and insurance industries for more than 30 years, Luetkemeyer serves as the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Small Business and Subcommittee on Consumer Protection. He's also a member of the House Financial Services Committee.
He previously served on the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis.
Mann is a Brentwood mother and agricultural scientist. She beat three Democratic primary opponents with more than 62 percent of the vote in August.
Mann said she's running because she's passionate about areas she sees Missouri falling behind in, such as supporting middle-class and working families, improving education specifically in STEM areas and strengthening bargaining rights for farmers and workers.
Mann said she also sees the state falling behind in broadband development and maintaining the conditions of roads, bridges and dams, noting the state has a C- infrastructure grade from the American Society of Civil Engineers.
"These issues are important to me because I believe that Missouri families and Missouri children in particular should see a future in living and working in Missouri's 3rd District," she said.
Mann said she grew up in Foristell, moved away for school and then later returned.
"It's sad to see so many people leaving the 3rd District because they saw futures in other places," she continued. "We've got a higher than usual suicide rate among farmers because their kids are leaving the area and not seeing a future in farming, and I think that's really a shame."
If elected, Mann said she wouldn't necessarily abide by partisan divisions in Congress. She intends to seek out various perspectives because divisive politics have caused people to become disillusioned with government, she said.
"Whoever steps into these leadership roles is going to have to be able to address that in a way that isn't polarizing and brings people together," she said.
In a Sept. 30 message to constituents, Luetkemeyer said he stands behind House Republican's "Commitment to America" initiative, which lays out priorities for the Republican party if it were to regain control of the House.
He specifically highlighted plans to invest in local law enforcement agencies and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to reduce crime and secure the country's southern border, develop energy independence from other countries and reduce inflation.
"Our country quite literally cannot afford two more years of the status quo," he wrote in the Sept. 30 bulletin. "As you know, inflation has reached a 40-year high and has outpaced workers' wages for 17 months in a row. Giant government funding bills have put trillions in taxpayer dollars toward things like radical climate initiatives, excessive COVID relief funding, an army of 87,000 of IRS agents and paying off student loans for PhDs. America has been experiencing this inflation -- or too much money chasing too few goods and services -- for far too long."
Bethany Mann