11 who remain in the GOP field

These are the candidates who will by vying for votes from the GOP 8th District Committee on Saturday in Van Buren, Mo.

Wendell Bailey

Wendell Bailey

A former congressman from Willow Springs, Mo., Bailey repeatedly has said he wants the nomination only so that he may serve the remainder of Emerson's term, setting up a 2014 primary as a level playing field for all candidates.

Jason Crowell

Jason Crowell

Crowell represented Cape Girardeau for a combined 12 years in the Missouri Legislature, ending his final term in the Senate last month. During public forums he has called for Congress to cap spending and outlined a conservative record in the Legislature.

Peter Kinder

Peter Kinder

Kinder, once a key potential Republican gubernatorial candidate, decided to seek a third term as lieutenant governor instead of trying to defeat Gov. Jay Nixon in the November 2012 election. In 2008, Kinder was the only Republican to win statewide office when all others went to Democrats.

Scott Lipke

Scott Lipke

Now an associate circuit judge in Cape Girardeau County, Lipke represented Jackson in the state House from 2002 until 2010. Lipke has been unable to participate in public forums with the rest of the candidates because of state statutues governing judges' conduct.

Bob Parker

Bob Parker

A rancher and real estate investor from Raymondville, Mo., Parker unsuccessfully tried to unseat Emerson from the right in the 2010 and 2012 primaries. Parker has a dedicated group of followers.

Todd Richardson

Todd Richardson

Richardson, of Poplar Bluff, Mo., won election to the state House in 2010 after surviving a three-way primary. He was elected to the redrawn 152nd District in November. During the current session Richardson has been working on an ethics reform package.

Jason Smith

Jason Smith

Now Speaker Pro Tem in the Missouri House of Representatives, Smith was first elected to the House in 2005. Smith filed a bill in the current session that would change how the state handles vacancies in statewide offices by requiring a special election and has touted conservative positions at forums.

Lloyd Smith

Lloyd Smith

Smith left his position as executive director of the Missouri Republican Party to focus on the 8th District nomination. A longtime political strategist, he has worked on national campaigns and served as chief of staff for Jo Ann Emerson and her late husband, former Congressman Bill Emerson.

Sarah Steelman

Sarah Steelman

Steelman, a former state treasurer and former state senator, unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate against Claire McCaskill in the last general election.

Clint Tracy

Clint Tracy

Tracy is Cape Girardeau County's current presiding commissioner. Before he was elected to the position in 2010, he represented Cape Girardeau in the Missouri House.

John Tyrrell

John Tyrrell

Tyrrell is an attorney from Mountain Grove, Mo., who is seeking public office for the first time. Tyrell also teaches law courses at Drury Universtity in Springfield, Mo.