A full year has gone by without a representative in Missouri’s 95th House District, after the seat was vacated by Michael O’Donnell in January 2025. Now, Democrat Meredith Sumenek has announced her intention to run for state representative and bring representation back to Oakville residents.
Sumenek will hold a fundraiser called “Send Meredith to Jefferson City” on Feb. 12 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. The event will take place at Blarney Stone Sports Bar and Grill, 4331 Telegraph Road. The fundraiser was planned to take place before filing day, which is on Feb. 24, when Sumenek plans to officially file her candidacy.
“The fundraiser is a casual gathering at the Blarney Stone and is intended to support her grassroots campaign focused on affordability and bringing local representation back to South St. Louis County,” a campaign representative stated about the event.
No special election has been called to fill the 95th District’s vacancy, so Sumenek is focusing her efforts on the August Democratic primary and a general election in November.
Sumenek is the president of the Tesson Ferry Democratic Organization. She worked in finance for over 20 years and says she has been engaged with local government and school board meetings throughout her lifetime.
On Sumenek’s website, she lists affordability, education, health care, voters’ rights, reproductive rights, transparency, representation and the protection of gun rights as her platform’s ideals.
Republican Bob Mahacek also announced his candidacy for the 95th District in late 2025. The lifelong South County resident owned and operated a small trucking company and has volunteered with prison rehabilitation and faith programs.
In 2022, Mahacek lost to incumbent Rep. Michael Burton, D-Affton, for the representative seat in Missouri’s 92nd House District. Mahacek has also run for the Mehlville Board of Education.
“I am running to bring civility and common sense solutions to the Missouri House,” Mahacek said in a release. “As a small business owner, and lifelong Missourian, I know our communities deserve leaders who listen and fight for working families, safer neighborhoods and better schools.”
