Who's In the Race

Rep. Jason Smith (R-MO) faces Democrat Christopher Reichard and Libertarian Rebecca Sharpe Lombard in the Nov. 3 general election in Missouri's 8th District. The race runs on Missouri's 2022 congressional map; a new 2025 map will not take effect for this election, according to a Sept. 25 U.S. Supreme Court ruling. ​

Smith has represented the district since 2013 and is a seventh-generation Missourian and fourth-generation owner of his family's farm. He won the Republican primary over Gordon Heslop, receiving 94,514 votes to Heslop's 15,372; the record does not include a vote-share percentage for Smith.

Reichard served in the U.S. Army from 2004 to 2012, enlisted at 18, and served in Iraq; he is a disabled Iraq War veteran and IBEW union member. Reichard won the Democratic primary over Frank Barnitz, receiving 15,334 votes to Barnitz's 12,999; the record does not include a vote-share percentage for Reichard. Lombard ran unopposed in the Libertarian primary.

What They Stand For

Smith has proposed fighting rising fertilizer and soil-input costs to support Missouri's farmers, according to his official House website. He's also supported:

Smith supports permanent expanded estate-tax relief, which he says protects family farms from a reduction in the exemption, and his issues page lists defending rights, family values, and keeping Washington out of Missouri among its issue areas.

Reichard has called for defending constitutional, civil, and labor rights, including restoring checks and balances among the branches of government, according to his campaign website. He's also supported:

  • Veterans' care and benefits,
  • Workers' rights; and
  • Medical reform.

The Money Behind the Race

Smith raised about $5.3 million through July 15, according to Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings, and had about $5 million in cash on hand. Reichard raised about $5,674 through July 15 per FEC filings, with about $1,942 in cash on hand and about $5,196 in debt.

Outside spending in the race totaled zero as of Oct. 13, though Defend American Jobs has filed notices of about $75,617 in pending independent expenditures supporting Smith, according to the race record.

Race Outlook: Ratings and Betting Markets

Cook Political Report rated the race "Solid Republican" as of Oct. 9; Sabato's Crystal Ball rated it "Solid Republican" as of Oct. 11; and Inside Elections rated it "Solid Republican" as of Oct. 2. On Kalshi, traders gave Republicans, whose nominee is Smith, a 95.42% chance of winning as of Oct. 13; Democrats, whose nominee is Reichard, stood at 4.58%.

Smith carried the district with about 76% of the vote in both 2022 and 2024. Republicans won six of Missouri's eight U.S. House seats in both 2022 and 2024, with Democrats winning the other two. Donald J. Trump carried Missouri in the 2024 presidential election with about 58% of the vote.

Missouri's voter-registration deadline was Wednesday, Oct. 7, by 5:00 p.m. The deadline to apply for an absentee ballot by mail is Wednesday, Oct. 21, by 5:00 p.m. Early voting runs Tuesday, Oct. 20, through Monday, Nov. 2; hours are set by local election authorities. On Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3, polls are open from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

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