Incumbent Brad Christ, R-Sappington, will be challenged by Democrat Matt Vitale and Libertarian Shane Ferguson in the race for the 96th District seat in the Missouri House of Representatives.
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.
Christ and his wife, Erin, have four children. He was first elected to the 96th District seat in 2022 and was reelected in 2024. Christ works as an insurance broker and is involved with St. Catherine Laboure, where he is a parishioner, serves as a lector and is in the Men’s Club. He is also a volunteer with Mission St. Louis, an ambassador with the Association for Corporate Growth, a mentor with Capital Innovators and a member of Greater St. Louis Inc.
When asked why he is seeking office, Christ said: “Erin and I have four young kids, and I ran for office to be sure that they grew up in a state where they had the opportunity to thrive. During my first two terms, I worked to lower property taxes, ensure safer streets and expand access to quality schools. There’s more work to be done and I’ve built relationships across party lines to ensure that we succeed.”
Vitale and his wife, Becca, have two children who attend Lindbergh Schools. He is a manager of Experience Design at Publicis Sapient and serves as a Democratic Committeeman for Gravois Township. Vitale is involved with Dads of Concord (DOC) — a support organization for the Concord Elementary Parent-Teacher Group — as well as the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP).
When asked why he is seeking office, Vitale said: “Mike Kehoe’s Republican supermajority has proven out of touch with the needs and priorities of everyday Missourians. Our families deserve a government focused on what matters, like our public schools and cost of living. My priorities are the priorities of this district, and this campaign is about ensuring we have a representative who actually listens.”
Ferguson and his wife, Pamela, have one child who attends Lindbergh Schools. He works for GCI Security and has not held public office in the past.
When asked why he is seeking office, Ferguson said: “Provide another path in our divisive political landscape.”
The candidates gave the following responses to The Call’s candidate questionnaire:
What issue do you consider the single most important issue in this race and why?
Christ: “Affordability. I’ve led the fight in Jefferson City to stop backdoor property tax increases through unfair reassessments and to protect the senior tax freeze, and I filed formal opposition to Ameren’s latest 10% rate hike, its third in five years.”
Vitale: “Public education. At a time when the cost of everyday necessities like gas and groceries keep going up, the last thing Missourians need is to shoulder soaring property taxes so we can fund our beloved public schools. By actively defunding public schools, the Republican supermajority is doing just that. The state funding formula is $200 million short of where it needs to be, and with Governor Kehoe prioritizing changes to the education formula this session, it is critical we have a State Representative who will fight to keep our state tax dollars in public schools — the bedrock of our community.”
Ferguson: “The divisive top-down party politics. Voters are not being heard or respected; political parties believe governing means forcing the party agenda onto the citizens.”
Other issues you perceive in your race and your position on each?
Christ: “Public safety: I voted to keep violent offenders behind bars for at least 85% of their sentence and to back the police officers who protect our neighborhoods.
“Education: I supported banning cell phones in classrooms so teachers can teach and kids can focus, and I voted for budgets that put record state funding into our public schools. Economic development: I sponsored the Missouri Innovation Zones law, signed this year, to bring investment and jobs back to our region.”
Vitale: “Government Accountability & Corruption: We have a legislative supermajority that refuses to answer to voters. They routinely push fringe priorities that are rejected by 80% of Missourians while overturning voter-passed policies — like paid sick leave — that directly help working families.
“Protecting Working Families and Seniors: For 20 years, the Republican supermajority has cut taxes for corporations and the wealthy under the guise of economic growth, yet Missouri continues to lag behind. Governor Kehoe and legislative leaders have explicitly stated their desire to eliminate income tax and shift that burden onto seniors and working families through higher sales taxes. I will fight against regressive tax schemes that punish everyday Missourians.”
Ferguson did not answer.
What do you perceive to be your district’s greatest challenges? How will you address these challenges?
Christ: “Keeping people in their homes; I’ve fought to require an actual inspection before any assessment jumps more than 15%, to make the senior tax freeze automatic, and to make Ameren justify every dollar of its rate increase so that St. Louis County remains a place families can afford.”
Vitale: “Our unsustainably high local tax burden. As a State Representative, my core job will be to bring state tax dollars back home to my district. By fighting to fully fund our public schools at the state level, I will ensure local taxpayers have the public schools they deserve without unbearable financial strain.”
Ferguson: “This district is doing good. Low crime. Safe place to raise a family. Good law enforcement. The biggest concern is the cost of living growing far faster than pay. I will see what can be done at the state level to provide some relief for struggling families.”
What do you perceive to be the state’s greatest challenges over the next decade?
Christ: “Keeping Missouri a desirable and affordable place for the next generation, and achieving this goal requires that we provide quality education, reduce crime rates, keep violent criminals off the streets, and foster conditions that allow future generations to buy and keep affordable homes.”
Vitale: “Sustainable population and economic growth. For a quarter-century, Missouri has tried to lure businesses and residents with top-heavy tax cuts, and it has failed. People leave Missouri for states that invest in public infrastructure, healthcare and strong public schools. We will never attract new residents or businesses until we start investing in the families who already live here.”
Ferguson: “Learning to talk to one another again, urban, rural, suburban, rich, poor, republican, democrat. If we cannot at least speak to one another, we cannot grow together.”
What is your opinion on Missouri Amendment 3?
Christ: “I am pro-life. I believe abortion should be rare and safe, and I voted to put this amendment on the ballot to give Missourians the opportunity to vote on a bill that’s specific to our state. It protects a woman’s care in a medical emergency, ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage, keeps exceptions for rape and incest, requires abortions to be performed safely by licensed medical staff, and requires parental consent for cases where minors seek an abortion. It also locks in the state’s prohibition on sex-change procedures for minor children.”
Vitale: “It bans abortion and strips away reproductive healthcare freedom that Missouri voters restored in 2024. Vote NO.”
Ferguson: “I do not support Amendment 3.”
What is your opinion on Missouri Amendment 6?
Christ: “Amendment 6 was put on the ballot by petition, and it would require an 80% vote of the legislature plus another statewide vote before lawmakers could change anything voters pass by initiative. That’s a big change to how our constitution works, and it’s exactly the kind of question the voters, not politicians, should decide. I trust the people of Missouri to read it and make that call.”
Vitale: “It protects your vote from being overturned by politicians. It guarantees fair ballot language. It protects your right to use the initiative petition. Vote YES.”
Ferguson: “I support Amendment 6.”
What is your opinion on Missouri Amendment 7?
Christ: “Amendment 7 would create a permanent savings account for the state, funded by appropriations and private donations, with the earnings used to hold down taxes and the principal off-limits to the legislature. The idea of Missouri saving for the future has some appeal, but the details matter, and this is a decision the voters should make for themselves. I’ll respect whatever they decide.”
Vitale: “It creates a state fund meant to someday replace income and sales taxes. To replace today’s $13 billion in general revenue, the fund would need $260 billion. That will not happen in any voter’s lifetime. In the meantime, it pulls money away from schools and healthcare. Vote NO.”
Ferguson: “I do not support Amendment 7.”
What is your opinion on Missouri Amendment 8?
Christ: “Amendment 8 makes elected sheriffs part of the state constitution in most counties, but it specifically exempts St. Louis County, which has had a county police department since 1955. Nothing changes for us. I trust the voters in the counties it affects to decide what’s right for their communities, and I’ll respect the outcome.”
Vitale: “It makes county sheriff a constitutional office and says only the Attorney General can file to remove a sheriff. That weakens local accountability. Vote NO.”
Ferguson: “I support, in general, the intention of Amendment 8, but do not agree with the exceptions. And I question why is this needed?”
What is your opinion on Missouri Proposition A?
Christ: “Many of my constituents expressed a desire for a resolution to this issue, as the proposed map has bounced between the legislature, the Secretary of State, a Cole County judge, 8th Circuit, and the Supreme Courts. Voters will now have the chance to weigh in on redistricting, and whatever Missourians decide on November 3, I’ll respect it, and I’d like to see us go a decade without redrawing the lines again.”
Vitale: “Voters are supposed to choose their representatives. Proposition A lets politicians choose their voters. Vote NO.”
Ferguson: “I do not support political party gerrymandering or redistricting mid-decade.”
What process do you favor for redistricting? What do you think of the state’s current redistricting process?
Christ: “The constitution puts the legislature in charge of the maps, with the courts as the referee. The one change I’d make is to amend the law so that congressional maps are drawn once every ten years, after the census, and then left alone.”
Vitale: “I want an independent commission drawing our maps, out in the open, with rules that keep neighborhoods and towns together. Nobody in Jefferson City should get to pick their own voters. Last year, the Trump White House ordered Missouri Republicans to redraw our congressional map halfway through the decade, something this state has never done. That map didn’t just carve up Kansas City; it changed the congressional district for families right here in St. Louis County. Even the Republican Speaker of the House said ‘no.’ Brad Christ did not. My neighbors didn’t accept that. They gathered signatures, and the Missouri Supreme Court agreed unanimously that voters should have the final say in November. I’ll trust the people of this district over the president and party bosses every single time.”
Ferguson: “I favor a non-political, non-party-driven redistricting.”
What will or have you done to work across the aisle in Jefferson City?
Christ: “Many of my bills came from working with Democrat colleagues. My Innovation Zones law passed with bipartisan majorities. After the St. Louis tornado, I brought rural Republicans on board for regional relief funding. I worked with Democrat Sen. Doug Beck to bring Crestwood and Affton to the table, ending a 28-year fire service dispute and saving Crestwood taxpayers at least $1.1 million. Record school funding, the classroom cell-phone ban, and ending the state tax on Social Security passed with bipartisan votes. When legislation benefits our region, working together matters more than party loyalty.”
Vitale: “Bipartisanship requires a willingness to focus on everyday issues over party rhetoric. There are commonsense, bipartisan measures that have stalled due to lack of leadership — such as providing complete property tax exemptions for former Prisoners of War and 100% disabled veterans. I will work across the aisle to get meaningful, consensus-driven legislation like this across the finish line.”
Ferguson: “Speak to everyone, support what I can and oppose what I must. The fact that we even pose this question is indicative of division that we do not need.”
What bill would you sponsor as your first legislation post-election?
Christ: “Property tax reform. It passed both chambers with bipartisan support this year and died in a Senate filibuster, and I’ll file it on day one: no reassessment jumps over 15% without a real inspection, and a senior freeze you qualify for once. Right behind it, prior authorization reform, placing your doctor, not insurance companies, in charge of your health. HB 3010 which passed the House 143 to 1, would ensure that your medical care rests with your medical providers, and I consider this bill unfinished business.”
Vitale: “For far too long Missourians have worked tirelessly to make ends meet without a single second of guaranteed paid sick leave. Legislation establishing a statewide requirement for employers to provide at least one hour of earned paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked would ensure that working Missourians never have to choose between their health and their paycheck.”
Ferguson: “I have no agenda to force upon citizens, no legislation to endorse or sponsor.”
If elected, how would you work to make yourself accessible to your constituents?
Christ: “The best part of this job is knocking on doors, where I have the privilege of learning what matters to my constituents. I walk the district outside of election years to keep current with what matters to people in the district, and as a result, I launched my property tax fight. I’ll continue this practice, along with attending community events, meeting with our mayors, school leaders, neighborhood groups, and sharing press releases with local papers such as The Call, as I did on the topics of Flock Cameras, data centers and property tax reform. My phone number is on every communication sent from my office.”
Vitale: “My opponent held a single town hall this year, hosted by an out-of-state special interest group (Americans for Prosperity). I will hold regular, open constituent forums hosted directly by local community organizations in St. Louis County — providing a safe, transparent space where residents can ask real questions and share their concerns without corporate spin.”
Ferguson: “Phone, email, monthly district meetings, town halls, city council meetings.”
How will you advocate for the needs of your district in the legislature?
Christ: “The same way I have for four years: work hard and collaborate with others to get the job done. When neighbors called about a 105-foot cell tower going up next to a school in Sappington with almost no public notice, I got the word out, got the County Council to slow it down, and the project was withdrawn. I’ve fought Ameren’s rate hike at the Public Service Commission, led the property tax reform effort, helped secure tornado relief for St. Louis, passed an economic development law for our region, and voted to keep violent offenders locked up.”
Vitale: “I share the values, challenges, and priorities of South St. Louis County. I will legislate with the firm understanding that my sole obligation is to represent the people who elected me, not party leadership or out-of-state donors.”
Ferguson: “By speaking to legislators, senators and public officials about the needs and wants of the district, regardless of party.”
What is your opinion on Flock Safety and other automated license plate reader (ALPR) systems?
Christ: “Police should keep every tool that catches criminals, but government should not keep a map of where every law-abiding family drives, so I’m filing a bill in December that keeps the cameras and the hotlists for stolen cars and Amber Alerts, deletes all other personal data after thirty days, keeps Missouri data in Missouri, and makes misuse a felony.”
Vitale: “With two young children, keeping my community safe is a top priority of mine. Our law enforcement officers need effective modern tools to keep our neighborhoods safe. However, Flock in its current form poses a risk to our privacy and civil liberties. Flock uses artificial intelligence capable of tracking any individual. When you take your child to school, the doctor’s office, or out to the movies, Flock tracks and records it. This has led to multiple cases of Flock being misused for stalking and other abuses. Until there are strong protections in place, Flock’s surveillance in the name of safety does not justify its risk to our privacy and civil liberties.”
Ferguson: “They are not necessary, prone to abuse and errors, leading to unlawful arrest and imprisonment.”
What are your thoughts on data centers? Do you support a statewide construction moratorium, permanently or temporarily, on large data centers?
Christ: “We need to pause and take time to carefully review data centers and their power needs, which have been impacted by changes in technology. There’s no data center proposed in our district, but Ameren projects its electricity sales growing more than 60% in five years, almost all of it from data centers, so paying for the power plants that supply energy is up for debate. It should not be the family in Fenton or Crestwood. I support a pause on new large data centers until Missouri has rules in place that require operators to pay the full cost of the power they use, protect property owners from eminent domain, leave the decision with local communities, and ensure public transparency if tax breaks are used.”
Vitale: “I support a pause on new data centers in St. Louis County until strong rules are in place to protect our neighborhoods and our electric bills. Brad Christ voted for SB 4 last year, changing the law to allow power companies to charge their customers directly for the construction of new power plants. With Ameren recently announcing huge expansion plans to meet power demand for data centers, Christ’s vote will put an even greater burden on the working families of St. Louis County.”
Ferguson: “I believe the residents of the area must decide on having data centers in their city or county.”
Do you have an opinion on Missouri’s new requirements for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits?
Christ: “The goals are right: stop fraud, spend the money on real food, and expect able-bodied adults without kids to work or train, but these rules were written in Washington D.C. and Jefferson City, and they land on a senior in Crestwood who has to find a utility bill, or a working mom who missed a form. Nobody who qualifies should lose groceries over paperwork, so I plan to monitor how the rules impact users, and if it’s unintentionally hurting people, I’ll push to fix it — quickly.”
Vitale: “I strongly oppose administrative hurdles and strict work requirements that make it harder for vulnerable families, children, and seniors to access basic nutritional assistance. Restricting SNAP benefits does not create economic opportunity — it creates food insecurity, harms childhood development, and strains local food banks. State policy should focus on creating quality jobs, not taking food away from hungry children.”
Ferguson: “No. It is a fine line to walk, helping the public with taxpayer funds and keeping to costs of government low.”
Do you have an opinion on Missouri’s new law banning intoxicating hemp products?
Christ: “I voted for it. These products were being sold at gas stations with up to 1,000 milligrams of THC, no labeling, and packaging made to look like cookies and skittles, and Missouri kids were ending up in the hospital after eating them. Hemp is a plant, but a chemist can turn a natural product into something dangerous, and that’s what happened here. We’re seeing the same thing with kratom. Missouri regulates alcohol and marijuana; unregulated intoxicants next to the candy rack leaves the door wide open for abuse.”
Vitale: “I would have voted yes on HB 2641.”
Ferguson: “I agree with the law.”
What are your thoughts on MOScholars, Missouri’s private school voucher program?
Christ: “I support it, because one size doesn’t fit every student. MOScholars gives a family whose child is struggling in one setting a chance to try another. It’s a $60 million dollar budget vs. the public education budget of more than $4 billion, so it isn’t taking anything away from Lindbergh, Rockwood or Kirkwood. I’ve voted for record public school funding, and I’ll continue to ensure our public schools are funded; strong public schools and parents with choices aren’t mutually exclusive — we can and should offer both.”
Vitale: “I strongly oppose using taxpayer dollars to fund private school vouchers. Vouchers are a scam and defund the public schools we live here for. When Arizona tried it, families used public money on gaming computers, gift cards and video games. In Florida, the voucher program ran $398 million over budget while losing track of about 30,000 students it was still paying for. In 2025, the (Missouri) legislature put $50 million of our tax dollars into MOScholars. This year, it added $10 million more while underfunding our public schools by $190 million. As a Lindbergh parent, I will fight to keep taxpayer money in our public schools.”
Ferguson: “Vouchers take money away from the state to fund private institutions, which have fewer requirements. I oppose state money being used for private schools.”
Are changes needed to the state’s foundation formula for funding education?
Christ: “Yes, badly. The formula was written in 2005, and it’s been patched ever since instead of rebuilt. It may be the hardest bill in Jefferson City to pass, because the fight isn’t Republican versus Democrat, it’s suburban versus rural, and every member goes in protecting their own districts. I’ll fight for St. Louis County’s schools, but if we’re going to modernize it, everybody has to step back and think about the whole state. We’re one Missouri, and self-interest has to come second to the common good, mine included.”
Vitale: “Yes. The current formula is severely underfunded, pushing the financial responsibility onto local homeowners through rising property taxes. The state must meet its full funding obligations to ensure our public schools receive predictable, essential resources.”
Ferguson: “I do not know.”
What will you do to improve Missouri’s economy?
Christ: “Make Missouri the easiest state in the Midwest to hire someone and keep the lights on: fix our workers’ compensation and unemployment systems; pass the REINS Act so no state agency can impose a major regulation without a vote of the people’s elected representatives; and make Missouri an exporter of electricity instead of an importer, because cheap, reliable power is what brings employers here and what keeps a family’s bill affordable. My Innovation Zones law was a start, and there’s more to do.”
Vitale: “I will support policies that help working people and small businesses thrive — such as investing in public infrastructure, expanding workforce training, and strengthening public education. It has been proven time and again that corporate handouts and regressive tax shifts (like replacing income tax with sales tax) just work to burden small businesses and working families while making big corporations richer.”
Ferguson: “Ensure the right to establish, run, and profit from business is not infringed upon.”
What are your thoughts on the state’s immunization laws?
Christ: “Missouri’s school immunization laws have kept diseases like measles and polio out of our classrooms for generations. Also, parents have every right to ask hard questions, and after the last few years, the drug companies and federal agencies have a lot of trust to earn back. The answer to that is more transparency and independent testing, so parents and guardians can see the data for themselves and be confident about the choices they make for their kids.”
Vitale: “I support Missouri’s current immunization requirements. Brad Christ introduced HB 2373 to bar pediatricians from dismissing families who refuse to vaccinate their children. That puts newborns too young for their shots and kids fighting cancer in the same waiting rooms as unvaccinated children. Many pediatricians set these policies to protect their most vulnerable patients. The Republican supermajority might not agree, but I think doctors are more qualified than politicians to make a decision about my child’s health and safety. Christ’s bill takes that decision away from doctors and hands it to politicians in Jefferson City.”
Ferguson: “Immunization laws are a public health matter. We do not have plagues or outbreaks of disease on a yearly basis anymore. This is because of health codes and immunization laws.”
What changes, if any, should Missouri make to its healthcare system?
Christ: “Streamline medical care so that your doctor has the freedom to treat you free of intrusive oversight from insurance companies, and I proposed HB 3010 to advance this; it passed the House 143 to 1 before dying in the Senate. I’ll continue to keep pushing this bill until it becomes law.”
Vitale: “Missouri must address the rural hospital closure crisis and improve overall healthcare access. We need to expand maternal health resources and create a supportive legal environment for medical professionals. Criminalizing doctors for providing basic, life-saving reproductive care drives talent out of Missouri and worsens our healthcare shortages. We must protect reproductive healthcare freedom so doctors can make decisions based on medical evidence rather than fear of prosecution.”
Ferguson: “Lower costs, affordable plans, publicly disclosed pricing for health care establishments.”
Would you support legislation to facilitate a merger of St. Louis County and St. Louis city?
Christ: “No. St. Louis County can’t balance the budget it has, as it’s running an $81 million structural deficit, has spent Rams settlement money to cover the gap, and county voters just said ‘no’ to a new tax for the second time in four years. Taking on the city’s problems on top of that makes no sense, and the County Council, on a bipartisan vote, agrees. I support the city and county working together in other ways on services, crime, roads and economic development, but oppose a new layer of government that answers to nobody in our district.”
Vitale: “St. Louis is the economic engine of our state, and it is falling behind. We need to do something bold. I strongly support state and regional initiatives that foster collaboration across jurisdictions, cut redundant public services, and strengthen regional economic development.”
Ferguson: “Yes.”
What do you think of the leadership of Gov. Mike Kehoe?
Christ: “While Governor Kehoe’s heart is in the right place and he loves Missouri, I don’t agree with him on everything, and that’s natural in every relationship. He balanced the budget while signing record funding for public schools, ensured funding construction of roads and bridges, and because Missouri currently imports its electricity today, he’s pushing to build power plants here so we generate our own to control costs. He’s prioritized public safety and last week signed an order putting effective limits on license plate cameras — the same limits I’m writing into law.”
Vitale: “Governor Kehoe’s leadership represents a continuation of out-of-touch priorities. His focus has been on pushing policies rejected by the vast majority of Missourians — such as shifting the tax burden to sales tax, restricting voter ballot initiatives, and promoting gerrymandered districts. We need statewide leadership focused on the real issues that matter, like funding public schools, improving access to healthcare, and promoting economic opportunity for everyday families.”
Ferguson: “It doesn’t matter who it is, a Republican governor will do Republican things. The Republican party is in charge, not Kehoe.”
What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?
Christ: “First, be St. Louis County’s voice in Jefferson City; before you cast a vote, listen to the people who sent you to the Capitol to serve them. Second, help people; when a constituent is stuck with a state agency, a license, a benefit, a permit, my office is there to help them find resolution. Third, lead on the problems facing the whole state; you can’t represent your district well by ignoring Missouri, and you can’t serve Missouri by ignoring your district. What I have done, and will continue to do, is to collaborate with people who don’t share my party affiliation or region to deliver what is best for the district and state.”
Vitale: “To listen continuously, act with transparency, and faithfully represent the needs, values, and economic interests of the people of South St. Louis County.”
Ferguson: “Listen, listen, listen. Vote how the people want. Be a stand-up voice for the district.”
Have you been endorsed by any groups/organizations?
Christ: “Missouri Fraternal Order of Police; St. Louis County Police Association; Missouri State Council of Fire Fighters; Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council; Laborers’ International Union Local 110; Missouri Chamber of Commerce PAC; National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB); Missouri Nurses Association.”
Vitale: “South County Labor Club, Missouri National Education Association (MNEA), National Association of Social Workers (NASW), Access MO, SEIU Healthcare, Teamsters Joint Council 13, Sheet Metal Workers Local 36, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, Sierra Club.”
Ferguson: “I have not sought any endorsements. The only endorsement I want is that of the voters of District 96.”
Editor’s note: The following questions are as they were submitted to The Call by the candidates in their entirety. They have not been edited in any way, other than to ensure appropriate language and no direct attacks on opponents or other candidates.
