JEFFERSON CITY — The filing deadline for the August primary closed at 5 p.m. Tuesday without any Democrat filing to challenge the re-election of Republican State Auditor Tom Schweich.

It is the first time since 1878 that no Democrat has filed for the state auditor’s office, according to Schweich’s campaign.

But it is not entirely a free pass. Candidates for both the Libertarian Party and the Constitution Party filed for the office.

Schweich is seeking his second term as state auditor.

It will be the only statewide elected office on the 2014 August primary and November general election ballots. No other statewide government office is up for election and no U.S. Senate seat is being contested.

The other major development in the last day for candidate filing was not a complete surprise.

House Speaker Tim Jones did not, as he had announced earlier, file for the eastern Missouri Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Brian Nieves, R-Franklin County.

Nieves had withdrawn his candidacy filing earlier amid speculation that Jones would file.

But in the meantime, Rep. Dave Schatz, R-Franklin County, filed for the seat and promptly contributed $250,000 to his own campaign, followed 11 days later by another $100,000 contribution to his own campaign.

Jones, R-St. Louis County, has proclaimed his interest in running for a statewide office in 2016, either attorney general or secretary of state. But because of legislative term limits, he cannot run for his current House seat.

With the filing deadline has passed, Jones will be out of state office for the nearly two-year period leading into the 2016 elections.