As voters in Missouri chose a new slate of statewide elected officials on Nov. 8, they elected a Baptist layman for the state’s second highest office.
Republican State Senator Mike Parson, a member of First Baptist Church in Bolivar, Mo., easily defeated Democratic former U.S. Rep. Russ Carnahan in the race to be Missouri’s 47th lieutenant governor.
Carnahan, a Methodist, is the son of Baptist politicians, the late Gov. Mel Carnahan and former U.S. Sen. Jean Carnahan.
U.S. Senator Roy Blunt, a Republican, narrowly won reelection for a second six-year term. The former president of Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Blunt holds membership at First Baptist Church in Branson, Mo. Republican U.S. Rep. Sam Graves, a member of First Baptist Church of Tarkio, Mo., overwhelmingly won reelection to a ninth term representing the 6th district that encompasses the entire northern part of the state.
Democrat Judy Baker, another Baptist running for statewide office in Missouri this year, lost her bid for state treasurer. A graduate of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Baker previously served in the Missouri House of Representatives. Her husband, John, served as pastor of First Baptist Church of Columbia, Mo., before leaving to lead a nonprofit community foundation.
