Republican Louise Secker has won Missouri House District 161 against Democrat Aaron Metzger. The race between the two candidates was close, with Secker winning by 218 votes.
She’s likely one of the only women to be elected to the district, which covers Webb City and parts of Joplin. Her win maintains Republican control of the district, which has been occupied by Lane Roberts since 2019, who did not seek re-election.
Secker is a realtor for Keller Williams in Joplin. Although new to politics and campaigns, she has experience in business and nonprofit management. She calls herself a lifelong conservative.
In a post on his campaign's Facebook page, Metzger said "he wanted to congratulate Louise Secker and wish her well in serving District 161.”
Metzger noted the race was close and said “that is something we can be proud of and something we can build on.”
Secker unexpectedly took the Republican candidacy in September. Thomas Ross originally won the Republican candidacy in the August Primary. He was later charged and convicted for conspiring to plant drugs on Secker.
Ross withdrew his candidacy after the Jasper County Republicans and chair of the Missouri Republican Party called for his name to be removed from the ballot.
Secker said she did not know Ross before they ran against each other in the primary.
In an interview with KRPS about her candidacy, Secker said she's interested in joining the committes such as budget, crime and public safety and children and families once elected to the legislature. She wants to ensure the upcoming state budget doesn't negatively impact her constituents in the Joplin area.
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