Koster wins, other Missouri races close

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Democratic Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster won a second term Tuesday, while several other candidates for statewide offices were in close races hours after the polls closed.

Koster held off a challenge from Republican Ed Martin, who was chief of staff to former Gov. Matt Blunt.

Republican Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder was leading Democrat Susan Montee late Tuesday, while Democratic state Treasurer Clint Zweifel was roughly even with Republican challenger Cole McNary, a state House member from Chesterfield.

Kinder is seeking a rare third term as lieutenant governor after opting to skip an expected run for governor.

Republican Shane Schoeller was leading Democrat Jason Kander in the race for secretary of state. The two state House colleagues were competing to succeed incumbent Secretary of State Robin Carnahan, who decided against seeking a third term.

The secretary of state is Missouri's chief elections officer, and elections issues played a prominent role in the campaign.

Schoeller, of Willard, has backed a requirement that voters show a photo ID at the polls and has proposed a new state commission to consider complaints about the fairness and accuracy of ballot summaries for initiatives.

Kander, who is from Kansas City, argues recent photo ID proposals have been extreme and unfair and that the ballot summary panel would inject more politics. He supports an early voting period.

The treasurer's campaign between Zweifel and McNary received the least attention heading into Election Day.

The campaigns for the four statewide offices largely were overshadowed this fall by higher-profile races in Missouri, but the outcomes could have a significant effect on how state government operates for the next four years.