Editor’s note: The following responses appeared in the Oct. 24 print edition of The Call. Some responses may have been edited for grammar and shortened due to print space constraints. Continue to check callnewspapers.com for more  web-exclusive content from the candidates. 

Missouri Sen. Doug Beck, D-1st District, is being challenged by Republican Robert J. Crump in the election Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Beck lives in Affton with his wife, Marilyn. He was first elected to the legislature in 2017 as the 92nd Missouri House District representative and was elected as senator in 2020, succeeding former Sen. Scott Sifton. He served on the Affton Board of Education from April 2009 to April 2018.

When asked why he was seeking reelection, Beck said, “I’m running for office to fight for fair wages, quality education and protect the rights of Missouri families against harmful government overreach.”

Crump lives in Webster Groves. He previously ran for the House of Representatives’ 82nd District in 2016, 2020 and 2022, but was defeated in all races by Rep. Donna Baringer, D-St. Louis City. In 2018, he challenged Sen. Karla May, D-St. Louis City, for the Missouri’s 4th Senate District, but was unsuccessful in that race.

Crump did not return The Call’s questionnaire by The Call’s press deadline. Read more about Crump’s campaign here. 

Beck gave the following responses to the questionnaire:

What issue do you consider the single most important issue in this race and why?

Beck: “Reproductive rights are on the ballot, and I firmly support a woman’s right to make her own healthcare decisions, including access to abortion, IVF and birth control. The Republican-led legislature’s attempts to restrict these rights are government overreach that hurts Missouri families, and I fully support passing Amendment 3 to restore Missourian’s right to choose.”

Other issues you perceive in your race and your position on each:

Beck: “Two other issues that are key in this race are workers’ rights and education. Missouri workers deserve better. I’ve spent my career standing up against anti-worker legislation like ‘Right-to-Work’ and will continue to back policies like Prop A that benefit working families across our state. In education, I advocate for fully funding our public schools, raising teacher pay and expanding access to pre-K programs. Strong local schools are vital for our communities and help build a better future for our children​.”

What is your position on abortion?

Beck: “I believe that all women should have the right to make decisions about their bodies. Missouri is safer and healthier when women are in control of their reproductive choices. I fully support passing Amendment 3.”

What is your position on the death penalty?

Beck: “I believe that the current imposition of the death penalty is unjust. Missouri has seen too many cases of the wrongfully convicted being sentenced to death. Unless there is a way to show guilt beyond a shadow of doubt, I am not in favor of the death penalty.”

How will you advocate for the needs of your district in the legislature?

Beck: “Since 2016, I have advocated for the needs of my constituents in Jefferson City. I know workers’ rights, a well-funded school system and job creation are top priorities for the working-class families in the first district. I will continue to write bills and support my colleagues’ efforts to create a better Missouri.”

What do you perceive to be the 1st District’s greatest challenges? How will you address these challenges?

Beck: “Families in the 1st District deserve well-funded schools for their children. I will fight to end Republican-led assaults on our public schools. From my time as a member of the Affton school board, I know that Jefferson City telling our teachers and librarians what books are allowed on their shelves is not what is right for our community.”

What is your position on tax-increment financing?

Beck: “Tax-increment financing can be a useful tool to further develop Missouri’s economy, but I believe there need to be protections so any new development will treat workers fairly. Any development using our tax dollars must use Union workers from Missouri so our money stays in our community.”

Are changes needed to the state’s foundation formula for funding education?

Beck: “I believe that the local schools know the needs of their student body. I support an increase in funding; that means a permanent increase in pay for our teachers and investing in Pre-K for lower-income families. Missourians deserve the highest quality of education, and the way we do that is by supporting our schools and investing in the community.”

Are changes needed to the law allowing Missouri citizens to carry concealed weapons?

Beck: “Yes, there must be changes to the concealed carry laws in Missouri. I am a staunch supporter of our 2nd Amendment rights as Americans; however, we need to bring common-sense gun laws to Missouri. Background checks and permits not only make Missouri safer, but also make our first responders safer and more readily able to do their jobs.”

What do you propose to generate revenue for road and bridge improvements?

Beck: “Missouri infrastructure is in need of more improvement. I believe that investment in local communities; economies will have a multiplying effect on revenue that can be used for road and bridges improvement.”

Should police departments be defunded?

Beck: “No, I do not believe that Missouri police departments need to be defunded. Giving our law enforcement officers the support they need is crucial to keep our community safe.”

What changes should Missouri make to its health care system?

Beck: “I support expanding Medicaid to increase access to life saving and life changing healthcare for Missouri families. Additionally, we need to provide a pathway for young, passionate workers to enter the healthcare field by assisting them with education and job training.”

Keep reading for web-exclusive questions and answers from the candidate

Editor’s note: The following questions and answers are as they were submitted to The Call by the candidate in their entirety. They have not been edited, other than to ensure appropriate language and no direct attacks on opponents or other candidates. 

What issue do you consider the single most important issue in this race and why?

Beck: “Reproductive rights are on the ballot, and I firmly support a woman’s right to make her own healthcare decisions, including access to abortion, IVF, and birth control. The Republican-led legislature’s attempts to restrict these rights are government overreach that hurts Missouri families, and I fully support passing Amendment 3 to restore Missourian’s right to choose.”

Other issues you perceive in your race and your position on each:

Beck: “Two other issues that are key in this race are workers’ rights and education.

“Missouri workers deserve better. I’ve spent my career standing up against anti-worker legislation like “Right-to-Work” and will continue to back policies like Prop A that benefit working families across our state.

“In education, I advocate for fully funding our public schools, raising teacher pay, and expanding access to pre-K programs. Strong local schools are vital for our communities and help build a better future for our children​.”

What is your position on abortion?

Beck: “I believe that all women should have the right to make decisions about their bodies. Missouri is safer and healthier when women are in control of their reproductive choices. I fully support passing Amendment 3.”

What is your position on the death penalty?

Beck: “I believe that the current imposition of the death penalty is unjust. Missouri has seen too many cases of the wrongfully convicted being sentenced to death. Unless there is a way to show guilt beyond a shadow of doubt, I am not in favor of the death penalty.”

How will you advocate for the needs of your district in the legislature?

Beck: “Since 2016, I have advocated for the needs of my constituents in Jefferson City. I know worker’s rights, a well-funded school system, and job creation are top priorities for the working-class families in the first district. I will continue to write bills and support my colleague’s efforts to create a better Missouri.”

What do you perceive to be the 1st District’s greatest challenges? How will you address these challenges?

Beck: “Families in the 1st District deserve well-funded schools for their children. I will fight to end Republican-led assaults on our public schools. From my time as a member of the Affton school board, I know that Jefferson City telling our teachers and librarians what books are allowed on their shelves is not what is right for our community.”

What is your position on tax-increment financing? Are changes needed to this law?

Beck: “Tax-increment financing can be a useful tool to further develop Missouri’s economy, but I believe there need to be protections so any new development will treat workers fairly. Any development using our tax dollars must use Union workers from Missouri so our money stays in our community.”

Are changes needed to the state’s foundation formula for funding education?

Beck: “I believe that the local schools know the needs of their student body. I support an increase in funding; that means a permanent increase in pay for our teachers and investing in Pre-K for lower-income families. Missourians deserve the highest quality of education, and the way we do that is by supporting our schools and investing in the community.”

Are changes needed to the law allowing Missouri citizens to carry concealed weapons? If so, why? If not, why not?

Beck: “Yes, there must be changes to the concealed carry laws in Missouri. I am a staunch supporter of our 2nd amendment rights as Americans; however, we need to bring common-sense gun laws to Missouri. Background checks and permits not only make Missouri safer but also make our first responders safer and more readily able to do their jobs.”

Are changes needed to the state’s current Open Meetings and Records Law? If so, what would you propose?

Beck: “I believe that transparency is a necessary component of our political system. Missouri voters deserve to be informed and aware of what is being discussed in public meetings. The Sunshine Law promotes a responsible government.”

What do you propose to generate revenue for road and bridge improvements?

Beck: “Missouri infrastructure is need of more improvement. I believe that investment in local communities’ economies will have a multiplying effect on revenue that can be used for road and bridges improvement.”

Are changes needed to the state’s eminent domain laws to prevent abuse?

Beck: “Eminent domain should only be used for projects that benefit the whole community. It should not be a tool for rich developers to break up our neighborhoods.”

What will you do to improve Missouri’s economy?

Beck: “Missouri’s economy is strong when working class folks and their interest are put first. I will hold the political elite and their donors responsible by supporting legislation that ends the pay to play system in Missouri politics and will always support working class families. I will also support initiatives that encourage local entrepreneurs to follow their dreams and start businesses right here in the 1st district.”

Should police departments be defunded?

Beck: “No, I do not believe that Missouri police departments need to be defunded. Giving our law enforcement officers the support they need is crucial to keep our community safe.”

What changes should Missouri make to its health care system?

Beck: “I support expanding Medicaid to increase access to life saving and life changing healthcare for Missouri families. Additionally, we need to provide a pathway for young, passionate workers to enter the healthcare field by assisting them with education and job training.”