JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - Kansas City Republican Bev Randles and Democratic state Rep. Tommie Pierson said this week that they're joining the race for Missouri lieutenant governor in 2016.
Randles announced her candidacy Wednesday in a video, touting her childhood growing up in Sikeston, a city of less than 17,000 in the state's southeast corner. Pierson, a pastor, told St. Louis Public Radio on Tuesday of his plans to run at the urging of clergy members.
Randles and Pierson join Springfield doctor and attorney Brad Bradshaw, a Democrat who said in May that he's running for the office.
Republican Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder has said he's considering a run for governor, which could mean an open race for lieutenant governor. Kinder's campaign treasurer was not immediately available to comment Wednesday.
Randles, a 42-year-old Kansas City attorney, formerly served as chairwoman of the Missouri Club for Growth, a conservative group largely funded by wealthy political activist Rex Sinquefield. She's far ahead of her competitors in terms of funding, receiving a $1 million lump sum donation from Sinquefield in December, which appears to be the largest single donation from an individual to a candidate in state history.
Pierson, a 69-year-old pastor at Greater St. Mark Family Church in St. Louis, said he decided to run after being urged by clergy members. Pierson preached to church members in November after some gathered there following a grand jury decision not to indict the white officer who fatally shot a black 18-year-old in Ferguson, which sparked another round of protests.
Pierson, of Bellefontaine Neighbors, first was elected to the House in 2010. He also worked for more than three decades at General Motors.
If either is elected, Randles or Pierson would become the state's first black statewide elected official. Both said that didn't play a role in their decisions, but the potential to make history is weighing on their minds.
Randles' video said she wants all Missouri residents to have opportunities for success, "no matter what part of the state they are from, no matter what their economic circumstances are, and no matter the color of their skin." She said if successful, her campaign could help change what she called the "bad rap" the GOP can get "for not having enough people in it who aren't middle-aged white guys."
Pierson said it would be "quite an honor" to make history as the first black statewide elected official.