For those who were lucky enough to forget, the 2024 election was contentious. Voters hit the polls in droves to support their favored candidate; in Missouri’s 95th House District — encompassing portions of Oakville and the southernmost part of unincorporated St. Louis County — that favored candidate was Michael O’Donnell. O’Donnell won 61.54% of his constituents’ votes and did eventually swear into the office last January. Days after, he resigned to become the state commissioner of securities.
To be fair, O’Donnell was appointed to the new position by newly elected Secretary of State Denny Hoskins, making the departure from his elected seat only slightly less of a slap in the face to his district. He did, also, state his commitment “to ensuring a smooth transition for my successor in the 95th district.” One year later, and this supposed successor has still not been named, appointed or elected, and the residents of House District 95 have endured one legislative session sans representation. All signs point to this legislative session looking the same, as no special election has been scheduled. Is this fair?
Though I do not live in O’Donnell’s former district, nor do I necessarily champion certain stances of his, it rubs me the wrong way that over 35,000 St. Louis residents are without representation on a state level. This is particularly jarring coupled with the fact that the area has little government representation at all aside from the general St. Louis County municipal government. Neighboring communities including Crestwood, Sunset Hills, Fenton and Green Park are represented three times as much, having a state representative, a municipal-specific government and the St. Louis County municipal government. I ask again: is this fair? Why was no special election called? What is the governor’s holdup?
If you, too, believe that this lack of representation at a state-wide level is concerning, you have the right as a Missouri citizen to contact your government with your grievances. Call the Missouri House of Representatives at 573-751-3762 and/or visit house.mo.gov to find additional contact information. Remember, your voice matters!
