Two Democrats compete for Lieutenant Governor nomination

In addition to six Republicans and a Libertarian candidate, two Democrats are vying for their party’s nomination for the lieutenant governorship of Missouri ahead of the state's Tuesday, Aug. 6, primary elections.

Richard Brown is currently serving in the Missouri House of Representatives for District 27, representing much of southeast Kansas City. Anastasia Syes from St. Louis is the founder of the Jehovah-Elyon Christian Ministries Foundation who had previously served as a health care professional for more than 30 years.

Brown wrote on his campaign website he has advocated for better health care, improved living standards for working families and keeping children safe during his time in office.

He said in a Ballotpedia survey response the Missouri Nurses Association and the Missouri Retired Teachers Association had named him their 2023 Legislator of the Year.

“I have been a strong proponent to improve access to quality health care in our state. I fought all the way to the Missouri Supreme Court to expand Medicaid in our state, worked to remove the restrictions on APRN's in Missouri and supported direct patient access to physical therapists without a physician referral,” he said in the response. “…As a retired teacher, I am concerned about the critical teacher shortage as well as the reduction in school days that some districts in our state have adopted. I support the minimum starting pay legislation for teachers in Missouri, but we still fall far behind 48 other states.”

Brown also advocated for affordable housing and child care.

Syes, in her own Ballotpedia survey response, said she is passionate about social justice, environmental justice and human rights issues.

“Anastasia is all about fighting for the citizens’ voice. Especially low-income and middle class citizens,” the response reads.

She said, if elected, she plans to remove personal property taxes on vehicles, fight for environmental safety issues and fight for women’s reproductive rights and against human trafficking.