An $8 million bond for wastewater projects was approved by Houston voters in Tuesday’s general election. Republicans Scott Long, presiding commissioner; Bennie Cook, state representative (143rd district); and Lindsay Koch, recorder of deeds, retained their positions.
State amendments and Proposition A
Amendment 3, which would have barred abortions aside from certain exceptions, did not pass. The measure garnered 72% approval from Texas County voters.
Amendment 6, which makes it more difficult to change laws initiated by citizens, passed, contrary to Texas County’s 64% votes against it.
Amendment 7, which would have established a public endowment fund for state government operations, did not pass.
Amendment 8, which constitutionalizes sheriff elections in most counties every four years by a majority vote of the people, passed.
Proposition A, which would have redrawn congressional district lines, did not pass. In Texas County, 55% of votes supported the measure.
Uncontested races
Winning uncontested races were Parke Stevens, Jr., Texas County associate circuit judge; Peggy Dixon Seyler, Texas County clerk; Erin Smith, Texas County circuit clerk; and Jacob P. Smith, Texas County prosecuting attorney.
Statewide races
District 8 U.S. Representative Jason Smith, Republican incumbent, defeated Democrat Chris Reichard and Libertarian Rebecca Lombard.
Scott Fitzpatrick, Republican incumbent state auditor, defeated Democrat Quentin Wilson and Libertarian Dustin Coffell.
Missouri judges
Judge Paul C. Wilson, Missouri Supreme Court, and Matthew P. Hamner, Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District, retained their offices.
Voter turnout
This November, 7,551 of 17,506 registered voters — 43.1% — cast ballots, below Seyler’s 49% prediction and below the 53% turnout in the November 2022 election.
Absentee voting jumped 42% from the last midterm election in 2022. On Tuesday, 1,109 absentee voters in Texas County cast ballots, compared with 783 in November 2022.
Polls were open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. The final results were tabulated at 8:22 p.m.
Unofficial tabulations
At time of publication, final percentages for amendments and state initiatives were still being calculated.
- Houston Bond: 58% approval.
- Scott Long defeated Lee Kern 5,658-1,658.
- Bennie Cook defeated Marsha Snodgrass 5,951-1,466.
- Lindsay Koch defeated Madeline Miller 5,974-1,362.
Full ballot language
Amendment 3
“Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to:
- Repeal the 2024 voter-approved Amendment providing reproductive healthcare rights, including abortion through fetal viability;
- Allow abortions for rape and incest (under twelve-weeks’ gestation), emergencies, and fetal anomalies;
- Allow legislation regulating abortion;
- Ensure parental consent for minors’ abortions;
- Prohibit gender transition procedures for minors?
State governmental entities estimate no costs or savings. Greene County estimates it may experience an unknown increase in tax revenue. Other local governmental entities estimate no costs or savings.”
Amendment 6
“Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to:
- expand the initiative and referendum petition process by making it a fundamental right;
- allow courts to revise ballot summaries through lawsuits;
- prohibit the legislature from weakening initiative or referendum powers;
- prohibit the legislature from changing or repealing laws enacted through the initiative process, or passing laws similar to those rejected by referendum, without approval from at least 80% of both chambers; and
- preserve existing majority vote and signature requirements for initiative and referendum petitions?
State and local governmental entities estimate no costs or savings.”
Amendment 7
“Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to establish a permanent public endowment fund to support state government instead of taxing Missouri residents, prohibit the General Assembly from appropriating or diverting the fund, and eliminate state-imposed taxes once the fund generates sufficient revenue to replace them?
State and local governmental entities estimate no costs or savings.”
Amendment 8
“Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to support law enforcement by preserving the right of citizens to elect a county sheriff, prohibiting the removal of a county sheriff except by a writ of quo warranto, and recognizing the office of sheriff as part of the administration of justice?
State and local governmental entities estimate no costs or savings.”
Proposition A
“Do the people of the state of Missouri approve the act of the General Assembly entitled “House Bill No. 1 (2025 Second Extraordinary Session),” which repeals Missouri’s existing congressional plan, and replaces it with new congressional boundaries that keep more counties intact?
State and local governmental entities estimate no costs or savings.”
