Missouri, State Representative, District 78

Missouri House of Representatives District 78
Current incumbent	Vacant

Missouri's seventy-eighth state house district is vacant. It was last represented by Democratic Representative Bruce Franks.

Missouri state representatives represent an average of 36,742 residents. After the 2000 Census, each member represented 34,326 residents.

About the office

Members of the Missouri House of Representatives serve two-year terms with term limits. Missouri legislators assume office the first day of the legislative session.

Qualifications

To be eligible to serve in the Missouri House of Representatives, a candidate must meet the following qualifications:

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At least 24 years of age
Qualified Missouri voter for 2 years before election
Resident of the district which he is chosen to represent for 1 year before election

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Is not delinquent in the payment of any state income taxes, personal property taxes, municipal 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 pled guilty to a felony or misdemeanor under the federal laws of the United States of America
Has not been found guilty of or pled guilty to a felony under the laws of this state or an offense committed in another state that would be considered a felony in this state

...

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

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Salaries

State legislators
Salary	Per diem
$35,915/year	$115.20/day

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 house are subject to term limits of no more than four two-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 house, 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 House of Representatives 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.

2019

A special election for Missouri House of Representatives District 78 was called for November 5, 2019. The candidate filing deadline was August 22, 2019.

The seat became vacant after Rep. Bruce Franks (D) resigned on July 31, citing family and a need to tend to his mental health.

General election

Special general election for Missouri House of Representatives District 78

Rasheen Aldridge (D) won election in the special general election for Missouri House of Representatives District 78 on November 5, 2019.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Rasheen Aldridge (D)	91.3	908
	Other/Write-in votes	8.7	87

There were no incumbents in this race.

Total votes: 995

2018

General election

General election for Missouri House of Representatives District 78

Incumbent Bruce Franks (D) won election in the general election for Missouri House of Representatives District 78 on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Bruce Franks (D)	100	9,935

The results have been certified.

Total votes: 9,935

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Missouri House of Representatives District 78

Incumbent Bruce Franks advanced from the Democratic primary for Missouri House of Representatives District 78 on August 7, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Bruce Franks (D)	100	4,730

The results have been certified.

Total votes: 4,730

Republican primary election

No Republican candidates ran in the primary.

2016

Elections for the Missouri House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election was held on August 2, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was March 29, 2016.

The results of the Democratic primary on August 2, 2016, were thrown out after Bruce Franks filed a lawsuit claiming that there were irregularities with the absentee ballots in the election. On primary election night, Franks appeared to have won the primary by 90 votes, but a large number of absentee ballots gave incumbent Penny Hubbard the victory. Judge Rex Burlison ruled that 142 absentee ballots should not have been counted by the City of St. Louis Board of Elections because they did not arrive in sealed envelopes. State election law specifies that absentee ballot must arrive in sealed envelopes. The new election was held on September 16, 2016.

Bruce Franks defeated Erik Shelquist in the Missouri House of Representatives District 78 general election.

Missouri House of Representatives, District 78 General Election, 2016

Party	Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Bruce Franks	86.28%	10,964
	Republican	Erik Shelquist	13.72%	1,744
Total Votes			12,708
Source: Missouri Secretary of State

Bruce Franks defeated incumbent Penny Hubbard in the Missouri House of Representatives District 78 Democratic primary.

Missouri House of Representatives, District 78 Democratic Primary, 2016

Party	Candidate
	Democratic	Bruce Franks
	Democratic	Penny Hubbard Incumbent
Source: Missouri Secretary of State

Erik Shelquist ran unopposed in the Missouri House of Representatives District 78 Republican primary.

Missouri House of Representatives, District 78 Republican Primary, 2016

Party	Candidate
	Republican	Erik Shelquist (unopposed)

2014

Elections for the Missouri House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election was held on August 5, 2014, and a general election on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 25, 2014. Incumbent Penny Hubbard defeated Natalie Vowell in the Democratic primary. John Hubb was unopposed in the Republican primary. Hubbard faced Hubb in the general election. Incumbent Hubbard defeated Hubb in the general election, and was re-elected to another term.

Missouri House of Representatives District 78, General Election, 2014

Party	Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Penny Hubbard Incumbent	83.7%	4,222
	Republican	John Hubb	16.3%	822
Total Votes			5,044

Missouri House of Representatives, District 78 Democratic Primary, 2014

Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Penny Hubbard Incumbent	71.7%	1,699
Natalie Vowell	28.3%	671
Total Votes		2,370

2012

Elections for the office of Missouri House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on August 7, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 27, 2012. Incumbent Penny Hubbard (D) was unopposed in the general election. Hubbard defeated Ruth Ehresman and Samuel J. Cummings, III in the Democratic primary.

Missouri House of Representatives, District 78 Democratic Primary, 2012

Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Penny V. Hubbard Incumbent	46.9%	1,737
Ruth Ehresman	34%	1,258
Samuel J. Cummings, III	19.1%	706
Total Votes		3,701

Campaign contributions

From 2002 to 2016, candidates for Missouri House of Representatives District 78 raised a total of $1,047,898. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $49,900 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money.

Campaign contributions, Missouri House of Representatives District 78

Year	Amount	Candidates	Average
2016	$110,652	3	$36,884
2014	$96,780	3	$32,260
2012	$147,502	3	$49,167
2010	$61,921	2	$30,961
2008	$190,846	2	$95,423
2006	$81,650	1	$81,650
2004	$129,425	2	$64,713
2002	$129,425	2	$64,713
2000	$99,697	3	$33,232
Total	$1,047,898	21	$49,900