JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – Voters were weighing their desires for an outside voice versus political experience Tuesday as they cast ballots in a Republican gubernatorial race that has been one of Missouri’s most broadly contested primaries in a generation.
The four-way Republican governor’s race, fueled by high-dollar contributions, headlined a primary ballot that will determine the parties’ nominees in the Nov. 8 general election for a variety of offices, including the U.S. Senate and House, the Missouri General Assembly and top state and local executive offices.
Voting began at 6 a.m. and runs until 7 p.m.
Missouri’s governor’s race is wide open because two-term incumbent Jay Nixon, a Democrat, has served the maximum amount allowed under state law and cannot seek re-election.
The Republican gubernatorial field features former Navy SEAL officer Eric Greitens, former Marine and businessman John Brunner, former Missouri House Speaker and U.S. Attorney Catherine Hanaway and Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder. Together, their campaigns already had spent more than $22 million as of July 21, the end of the most recent reporting period. Much of that money has gone toward a barrage of advertising.