Riddle re-elected to state Senate District 10

Jeanie Riddle (R-Mokane) is running for re election as state senator representing Missouri’s 10th Senate District. (Submitted)
Jeanie Riddle (R-Mokane) is running for re election as state senator representing Missouri’s 10th Senate District. (Submitted)

State Sen. Jeanie Riddle, Republican, is back for round two.

On Tuesday, the Mokane resident won her re-election bid to represent District 10. According to unofficial results posted by the Missouri Secretary of State, Riddle beat out first-time candidate and Democrat Ayanna Shivers by 48,277 to 20,384, or 70.31 percent of the vote.

Riddle was unavailable for comment following her victory.

In Callaway County, Riddle gained 12,166 to Shivers' 4,855, unofficial results from the county clerk's office state. District 10 also includes Audrain, Lincoln, Monroe, Montgomery and Warren counties. Riddle won with 66-77 percent of the vote in each.

Riddle is a 1972 graduate of McFluer High School in Florissant, and received a bachelor's degree in education from Drury College in Springfield in 1976. She worked in accounting for Southwestern Bell, then moved to Callaway County in 1977 to teach and coach for South Callaway school district.

Riddle served for District 49 of the Missouri House of Representatives from 2009-15, next winning her first term in the state senate.

During her campaign, Riddle named workforce training, services for foster children and improving access to affordable healthcare options as key campaign issues.

With workforce training, Riddle told the Fulton Sun she has a particular focus on preparing employees for skilled jobs.

"There's not enough welders, for example. We just need to help our kids," she added.

Shivers

As for Riddle's rival, Shivers said this won't be the last Callaway County sees of her.

"I'm sure I'll be doing something," she said. "Hearing from some of the supporters I've opened up some doors. For me not to do something in the future would be disappointing to many of them."

As she pointed out, Shivers knew from the beginning there was only going to be one winner, but "a loss isn't forever."

She said she was proud of the headway she managed to gain as a minority Democratic woman running on a small budget in a relatively rural district.

"I was able to run my race with $30,000," she said.

She plans on continuing to build relationships with groups and constituents throughout the district. She'll be speaking to current elected representatives as well.

"I'll be trying to work with elected legislators and see if they'll be responsive to the voice of the constituents," Shivers said. "I want to create an environment when people are cognitive of who they're voting for and why they're voting for them. I see this as a great start to a brighter future."

She said she'd be glad to share her insight on issues such as education.

Shivers extended thanks to all her supporters, including unions, Democratic clubs, women's groups and the young people who supported her campaign.

"I wish Jeanie the best," Shivers added.