Who's running in Missouri's 8th congressional district
3 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.
3 candidates · ballot order · Jason T. Smith currently holds this seat
Medium confidenceMedium confidenceThe candidate's stated positions and basic record are documented, but coverage is thin — often little independent reporting, or criticism from only one side.What would raise it: More independent reporting, a documented voting record, or published criticism from a named opponent would raise this.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Supporting President Trump's agenda.
Tax policy leadership as chair of the House Ways and Means Committee.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
US Representative for Missouri's 8th District since 2013.
Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee.
Former Missouri state representative, District 120; attorney.
Won the 2024 general election with 76.2%.
Won the August 4, 2026 Republican primary with 86.0% against Gordon Heslop.
Endorsed by President Trump.
Arguments in favor
He enters with the incumbent's advantages — 'political clout' and a bigger donor base than the other competitors.
— Ivy Shen, Southeast Missouri State University political scientist, to KRCU/The Arrow
Arguments against
'Jason Smith doesn't come out and speak to people unless it's a paid engagement or an exclusive farm tour with big donors… it just seems like he doesn't care and forgot his roots here', while the district trails the state on unemployment, poverty and education.
— Chris Reichard, Democratic opponent, to KRCU/The Arrow
'He's been in there too long. We don't need lifetime politicians' — and since he took office the national debt has more than doubled without any work from him to reduce it.
— Gordon Heslop, Republican primary opponent, to KRCU/The Arrow
What we couldn’t verify
No DCCC material naming Smith in 2026 could be found.
His campaign's own statement of priorities for 2026 was not found.
Whether Smith will debate Reichard had not been reported.
Returning federal funding to the district for health care and education.
Addressing the district's high unemployment and poverty rates.
In-person accountability to constituents across the district.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
US Army veteran.
Won the August 4, 2026 Democratic primary with 54.1% over former state Sen. Frank Barnitz.
Has not held elected office.
Arguments in favor
Running feels like 'a moral obligation': he is putting boots on the ground to talk to people about their problems, because what he pursues in Washington 'has got to be what the people want'.
— Chris Reichard, to KRCU/The Arrow
Arguments against
The district is 'extremely conservative' — Smith won 76.2% in 2024 — and Smith enters as the likely winner with incumbency and a larger donor base.
— KRCU/The Arrow reporting, including SEMO political scientist Ivy Shen
What we couldn’t verify
No published criticism of Reichard by name could be found — not from Smith's campaign, the NRCC, or southeast Missouri coverage.
His campaign website and fundraising were not found.
Whether he will debate Smith had not been reported.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
Missouri held its primaries on August 4, 2026. This southeast Missouri district was not affected by the 2025 redistricting, so the September 2026 court rulings restoring the 2022 map for November do not change its lines; an Eighth Circuit appeal over the statewide map is still pending. Three candidates are certified, in the Secretary of State's August 25, 2026 order: Republican incumbent Jason Smith, who beat Gordon Heslop with 86.0%; Democrat Chris Reichard, who beat former state Sen. Frank Barnitz 54.1% to 45.9%; and Libertarian Rebecca Sharpe Lombard. The 30-county district covers Rolla, the Bootheel, Cape Girardeau, West Plains, Farmington and Festus. It is one of the most Republican in the state: Smith won 76.2% in 2024 and Trump 74.7%.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
A Missouri ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.