Republican Association of Central Committees of MO
Working together to secure Missouri values & freedoms
VETTING
Because Republican Candidates
should have Republican Values
Most of this page is not viewable on a phone.
Is Vetting Legal?
The short answer? Absolutely!
The Supreme Court ruled on the First Amendment rights of political parties years ago. Justice Antonin Scalia delivered the majority opinion in "The California Democrat Party v. Jones".
When REPACCMO first developed the vetting process, we asked the ACLJ whether what we were proposing passed legal muster. We sent them our vetting manual, legal documents, candidate questionnaire, and the process that included looking at voting records, checking for felonies or delinquent local taxes, and a pledge candidates were required to sign. Their response was that we were on sound legal footing. Political parties have a First Amendment right of association, and a corollary of that right is the right to not associate, and the most important part of that is our ability to select our candidate.
Most recently in 2026, in the Western District Federal court found that candidates do not have a right to be on a party's primary ballot. They upheld the First Amendment rights of political parties and referenced the California v. Jones legal case mentioned above and linked to below.
Below are just a few of the legal documents we rely on to protect our First Amendment rights and the Party's right to vet candidates and to reject those whose values do not align with the Party's Platform. If you have any questions after reading them, feel free to consult your own attorney, but make sure it is someone familiar with political party rights. There are many more legal cases, and some are referenced in these judgments.
California Democrat Party v. Jones
Justice Antonin Scalia delivering the majority opinion.
SCOTUS determined that political parties have a First Amendment right of association, and that a corollary of that right is the right to not associate, and that nowhere what that right more important than in the selection of its candidate.
Federal Court 2026 case confirming political parties have the right to vet and to determine the process for themselves. REPACCMO vetting procedure was used as the example.
Note: this case occurred because in 2026 the MO GOP rejected the filing fee of an individual attempting to file for Congress on the Republican ballot. The denied candidate sued in federal court, claiming vetting violated the Voters Rights Act. The court found in favor of the political party. The plaintiff is appealling the decision.
(Because this is a federal case, use of casemine.com to view it may require setting up a free account.)
Vernon County v. (County Clerk) Adrienne Lee. Case No: 24VE-CV00185
The 29th Circuit Court found that the county clerk had overstepped her authority by putting candidates on the ballot without the approval of the central committee. The court told her she should have waited for a paid receipt from the candidate showing the party had accepted the filing fee.
Here is the judgment.
Excerpt from the Cole County Circuit Court's decision in which the MO GOP sued to try and get their filing fee back and reject a candidate. Case No: 24АС-CC02151
An excerpt from the ruling: "The Constitution contains no express provision that guarantees the right to become a candidate.....Moreover, the provision of the state statute Plaintiff cites, Mo. Stat. Ann. § 115.357 (5), only requires that "no candidate's name shall be printed on any official ballot until the required fee has been paid." It does not appear to, nor has it been interpreted as, creating a requirement that once the filing fee has been paid, a candidate's name must appear on the ballot. In fact, there are other requirements for candidacy that must be met beyond mere filing of the fee. See, e.g. Mo. Ann. Stat. §§ 115.347; 115.349. Thus, on the merits of Plaintiff's allegations there appears to be no claim on which relief can be granted."
Videos Supporting Vetting From Some of Our Favorite People!
Will Scharf, White House Staff Secretary
Former Candidate for MO Attorney General
Senator Bill Eigel, Candidate for Governor
Senator Rick Brattin, 31st SD
Senator Mike Moon, SD 29
Senator Joe Nicola, SD 11
Jacob Turner, Candidate for the SD 27
Why Vet Candidates?
We are all fed up with candidates who tell us they are Republicans when they are campaigning, but then seem to forget party values when they are elected and casting votes.
We at REPACCMO think those who file with the Republican party should have values that align with the majority of the Republican Platform! The purpose of REPACCMO vetting is to find out whether that's true. It's not a purity test, as RINOs who don't want to vet like to claim. Our process is not designed to test whether someone is "Republican enough", but simply whether a majority of the candidate's values are Republican values.
The 2026 Candidate Questionnaire asks candidates to evaluate statements on a variety of current issues and scores their positions based on the Republican Platform. This objective process is automated, the survey platform we use sends us the responses, which are locked, and the scores.
On July 1st*, we will upload the completed questionnaires on this page, so that voters can see what those running for office have said about a variety of current issues. We hope this process will assist Republicans in making the best choices at the August 4th primary.
*No new questionnaires will be accepted after July 1st.
- The Team at REPACCMO
2026 Election Cycle
January 10, 2026 - Our Candidate Questionnaire is Live.
Over 400 candidates vetted with REPACCMO in 2024. We look forward to another great election cycle and appreciate the candidates who respect voters enough to show them by going through our Republican Vetting Process. Our process is fair and objective and provides a means for candidates to share their positions with voters and importantly, demonstrate that their values are in fact Republican values. President Trump vets and so should we!
This cycle's questionnaire surveys a candidate's position and comments on a variety of current issues. Candidates who successfully complete the REPACCMO vetting process will be listed below.
On July 1st, vetting will close and completed questionnaires will be uploaded here so that voters can click on any file and view the position statements of that candidate. We hope this will help voters make informed decisions at the August 6th primary.
To earn our badge of approval, candidates must (1) score 70% or better on the Questionnaire, which is based on the Republican Party Platform values AND the platform Amendments passed at the 2024 State Convention, (2) have no felony convictions, and (3) if they have a voting record, score a C- or better on two of three scorecards we use. REPACCMO checks scorecards from CPAC, Freedom Index, and Freedom Principle MO.
Additional Details for Central Committees
Successfully Vetted Candidates - 2026
If a candidate has a website or Facebook page, his/her name will be underlined. Click the name to go to that site for more information about that candidate.
IF A CANDIDATE HAS VETTED FOR MORE THAN ONE ELECTION CYCLE, THE YEARS ARE IN ( )
CLICK ANY PDF FILE TO VIEW THAT CANDIDATE'S POSITION ON A VARIETY OF TOPICS.
PDFS CAN BE DOWNLOADED AND SHARED.
Congress
Beebe, Micah - 5th
Brattin, Rick ('24 - '26) - 5th
Burks, Taylor - 5th
Patty, Brad - 5th
State Senators
Alexander, Sam ('24 - '26) - Cedar - 28th
Avery, Jim - Jefferson - 22nd
Blue, Dusty ('24 - '26) - Audrain 18th
Brown, Ben - Franklin - 26th
Spicer, Derrick - Cole - 6th
State Auditor
Wistrand, Jerry - Jackson
State Representatives
Barnhart, Justin - Ralls - 5th
Costlow, Mike - St Charles - 108th
DeClue, Amy ('24 - '26) Franklin - 118th
Grady, John - Gasconade - 61st
Hagedorn, Ryan - Cedar - 127th
Harvey, Brandon - Grundy - 2nd
Hayes, Walter - Jasper - 162nd
Lansdown, Levi - Webster - 129th
Rackers, Vic - Cole - 59th
Robertson, David ('24 - '26) Jefferson - 97th
Ross, Thomas - Jasper - 161st
Sergent, Matt ('24 - '26) - Johnson - 57th
Sherman, Philip - Pettis - 52nd
Soseman, Jason ('24 - '26) - Adair - 3rd
Spencer, Scott - Cole - 60th
Stephens, Niles - St Louis - 110th
Worsham, Will - Webster - 129th
County Offices
McDonald, Dennis - GrundyMalone, Tony - Texas
Meservey, Marcy - Grundy
Miller, Sierrah - Cooper
Overstreet, Heather - Cooper
Parvathaneni, Sunthosh - Christian
Pence, David - Monroe
Pence, Gwenda - Monroe
Perkins, Fred - Franklin
Pickett, Janie - Franklin - College Board
Prater, Valerie - Osage - County Treasurer
Rantz, Craig ('24 & '26) - Osage
Rantz, Linda ('24 &'26) - Osage
Reed, John - Christian
Rosiere, Michael ('24 -'26) - Henry Presiding Comm.
Ruesing, Michelle - Cooper
Russell, Sherry - Randolph
Sander, Theodore - Randolph
Sander, Therese - Randolph
Somers, Jack - Vernon
Spencer, Amanda - Grundy Circuit Clerk & Rec.
Staggs, Martha - Monroe
Staggs, Ron - Monroe
Stratman, Anne - Osage
Stratman, Paul - Osage
Thomas, Ben - Grundy
Thomas, Melissa ('24 & '26) - Cass
Tyree, Justin - Franklin Presiding Comm.
Vandevender, Michelle - Grundy Circuit Clerk
Wadel, Jerry ('24 & '26) - Vernon
Waldon, Laura - Platte County Auditor
Walton, Ed ('24 & '26) - Texas
Walton, Joan ('24 & '26) - Texas
Weber, Joyce ('24 & '26) - Osage
Wells, Cary - Greene
Ascher, Isaiah - Franklin - St Clair Alderman
Axtell, Mary - Grundy
Barone, Jennifer - Grundy
Benson, Zachary ('24 & '26) - Vernon
Bishop, Jennifer - Clay
Boston, Janet - Cape Girardeau
Bratcher, Jim - Randolph
Buerge, Scott - Vernon
Burris, Jennipher - Randolph
Carriker, Don ('24 & '26) - Christian
Daniels, Devan - Howell
Dutton, Sandra - Randolph Circuit Clerk
Earp, Steve - Jefferson Clerk
Elliott, Holly - Grundy
Freeman, Jeremy - Randolph
Gallaway, Mindy - Shannon
Gore, Lisa - Boone
Grayson, LeeAnn - Franklin
Gross, Leslie - Franklin
Gross, Paul - Franklin - College Trustee
Hagen, Mark - Franklin
Haggard, Cyndia ('24 & '26) - Vernon
Harrell, Oscar - Jefferson
Hillhouse, Edward - Franklin - Presiding Comm.
Hilzinger, Kirk - St Louis City
Hoemann, Rachel - Monroe
Hollis, Mark - Scotland - County Comm.
Hoots, Josh - Texas
Householder, Jennifer - Vernon
Jernigan, Floyd - Phelps
Jones, Mike - Vernon
Keelin, Byron - St. Louis County
Kempen, Lynn - Christian
Lyczak, Katie - St. Charles
2024 Election Cycle
These are the OVER 400 candidates who have proudly stepped up to show they support our party's values by answering questions on a Values Survey and signing a Republican Candidate Statement. We are proud of their leadership in our fight to take back our Party, our State, and our Country. Vetting is happening for federal, state, and county elected offices.
VETTED State & Federal Positions
US Congress
Bob Onder Brandon Wilkinson
Eric Burlison Grant Heithold
Peter Pfeifer Shane Zimmer
Lt. Governor
Dave Wasinger
Tim Baker
Attorney General
Will Scharf
Gubernatorial Candidates
Bill Eigel
Chris Wright
Jay Ashcroft
Secretary of State
Denny Hoskins
Shane Schoeller
Treasurer
Lori Rook
Vivek Malek
State Senate
Adam Schnelting, Carolyn Caton, Derron Black,
Doug Richey, Hannah Kelly, Jacob Turner, Joe Nicola,
Joey LaSalle, John Hewkin, Mike Moon, Peter Pfeifer,
Rick Brattin, Sam Alexander, Susan Haralson,
State Representative
Anthony Zarantonello, Bill Irwin, Bob Titus,
Brandon Wilkinson, Bryant Wolfin, Burton Whaley,
Cathy Jo Loy, Daniel Contreras, Daniel Garrison,
Darin K Chappell, Dave Thomas, Derral Reynolds,
Doug Richey, Gary Senciboy, James Crossly, Jamie Gragg,
Jason Jennings, Jeff Coleman, Jeffrey Vernetti, Jim Povolish,
John Simmons, Karen Spalding, Kirk Hilzinger, Lisa Durnell,
Marjain Breitenbach, Mark Meirath, Mark Nolte, Matt Sergent,
Max Calfo, Melissa Schmidt, Michael Davis, Mike Jones,
Paul Stratman, Rafael Madrigal, Robert Bruette, Ron Fowler,
Shane Zimmer, Steven Bright, Teresa Murphy, Tom Franiak,
2024 Vetted Candidate Badges, In Order By First Name
& Videos From Some of Our Favorite Conservative Politicians
Over 400 candidates for office completed the REPACCMO vetting process for the 2024 election cycle.
Click the letter of the first name for the candidate's badge you wish to see.
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C
D
E
F
G
H
J
K
L
M
N
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