Missouri's eighteenth state senate district is represented by Republican Senator Cindy O'Laughlin.

Missouri state senators represent an average of 176,145 residents. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 164,565 residents.

About the office

Members of the Missouri State Senate serve four-year terms with a limit of two terms. Half of the Senate is up for re-election every two years. Missouri legislators assume office the first day of the legislative session.

Qualifications

To be eligible to serve in the Missouri State Senate, a candidate must be:

• At least 30 years of age
• Qualified Missouri voter for three years before election
• Resident of the district which he is chosen to represent for 1 year before election
• Is not delinquent in the payment of any state income taxes, personal property taxes, real property taxes on the place of residence as stated in the declaration of candidacy
• Is not a past or present corporate officer of any fee office that owes any taxes to the state.
• Has not been found guilty of or pleaded guilty to a felony or misdemeanor under the federal laws of the United States of America.
• Has not been convicted of or found guilty of or pleaded guilty to a felony under the laws of Missouri.
• In addition to any other penalties provided by law, no person may file for any office in a subsequent election until he or the treasurer of his existing candidate committee has filed all required campaign disclosure reports for all prior elections.

Salaries

Term limits

The Missouri legislature is one of 15 state legislatures with term limits. Voters enacted the Missouri Term Limits Act in 1992. That initiative said that Missouri senators are subject to term limits of no more than two four-year terms, or a total of eight years.

The first year that the 1992 term limits impacted the ability of incumbents to run for office was in 2002.

Vacancies

If a vacancy occurs in the senate, the Governor must call for a special election. There is no time limit specified under law. The mandate for a special election is sent to the election authority in the county that first established the legislative district.

Elections

2020

Elections for the office of Missouri State Senate will take place in 2020. The general election will be held on November 3, 2020. A primary is scheduled for August 4, 2020. The filing deadline is March 31, 2020.

2018

2014

Elections for the Missouri State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election was held on August 5, 2014, followed by a general election on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 25, 2014. Incumbent Brian Munzlinger was unopposed in the Republican primary and was unopposed in the general election.

2010

Elections for the office of Missouri State Senate consisted of a primary election on August 3, 2010 and a general election on November 2, 2010. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 30, 2010. Brian Munzlinger (R) defeated Wes Shoemyer (D) in the general election. Munzlinger and Shoemyer were unopposed in their respective primaries.

Missouri State Senate, District 18, General Election, 2010

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2014, candidates for Missouri State Senate District 18 raised a total of $4,779,889. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $434,535 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Missouri State Senate District 18