Sen. Joe Maxwell, D-Mexico, Sen. Lacy Clay, D-St. Louis, and Sen. Sam Graves, R-Tarkio, all resigned two weeks ago, giving the Republicans their one-seat majority for the first three weeks of the legislative session in January. Clay and Graves were elected to the Congress and Maxwell was elected as the state lieutenant governor.
Democrats hold a slight edge in the House, while Republicans enjoy a 16-15 advantage until the Jan. 24 special election to fill three vacant seats. [Note to desk: We got a release today saying the special election date was changing to Jan. 24, not Jan. 23 as Gov. Wilson said yesterday] Sens. Joe Maxwell, D-Mexico, Lacy Clay, D-St. Louis, and Sam Graves, R-Tarkio, all resigned this week to assume higher offices.
Governor Roger Wilson said special elections will be held January 24th for Maxwell's seat, and the other two vacated Senate Seats. Both Democrat Lacey Clay and Republican Sam Graves resigned Tuesday after they were elected to the U.S. Congress.
Sens. Joe Maxwell, D-Mexico, Lacy Clay, D-St. Louis, and Sam Graves, R-Tarkio, gave Wilson letters of resignation Tuesday. Clay and Graves were elected to Congress and Maxwell is the lieutenant governor-elect.
State senators Joe Maxwell D-Mexico, William Clay D-St.Louis and Sam Graves R-Tarkio were all elected to higher offices last week. Accepting their resignations will allow Wilson to call a special election that will most likely take place on January 23.
JEFFERSON CITY - A source close to Missouri Gov. Roger Wilson says the resignations of state senators Joe Maxwell, Sam Graves and William Clay have all been presented to the governor, and that now only a technicalities are holding up Wilson's acceptance.
Kinder said the most pressing issue was the special elections to fill the vacancies when Sens. Joe Maxwell, Lacy Clay and Sam Graves ascend to higher office. Maxwell was elected lieutenant governor, while Clay and Graves won seats in Congress.
Graves' brother, state Sen. Sam Graves, R-Tarkio, said his brother's ability to raise money and manage finances would serve him well in the treasurer's office.
Loar, who appeared at the news conference in Kansas City, ran for the open 6th congressional district this year and lost in the primary to state Sen. Sam Graves, R-Tarkio.
Roe worked as the deputy campaign manager for a Republican state legislator, Sam Graves, who was running for State Senate. Graves won the race. Roe also worked on Graves's reelection campaign in 1998.
Other possibilities loom. Sen. Sam Graves, R-Tarkio, is also running for Congress. He faces a tough race against the son of retiring U.S. Rep. Pat Danner, D-Mo., but if he wins he too would have to resign. His exit, if the three Senate Democrats win their elections, would lock the Senate at 15-15, giving the lieutenant governor, Maxwell, the deciding vote for pro tem.
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