Missouri House speaker says he's not running for auditor

September 8, 2017 at 3:50 p.m. | Updated September 10, 2017 at 1:23 a.m.

by Associated Press

Todd Richardson, left, is sworn in as the new Missouri House Speaker by Missouri Supreme Court judge Patricia Breckenridge on Friday, May 15, 2015, in Jefferson City, Mo. Richardson was elected unanimously to replace John Diehl who resigned after acknowledging he exchanging sexually suggestive text messages with a college freshman serving as a Capitol intern.
Todd Richardson, left, is sworn in as the new Missouri House Speaker by Missouri Supreme Court judge Patricia Breckenridge on Friday, May 15, 2015, in Jefferson City, Mo. Richardson was elected unanimously to replace John Diehl who resigned after acknowledging he exchanging sexually suggestive text messages with a college freshman serving as a Capitol intern.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Missouri's Republican House Speaker Todd Richardson says he's not running for state auditor.

Richardson said in a statement dated Wednesday that he'll instead focus on work leading the House.

Richardson had said he was considering a 2018 bid for the office now held by Democratic Auditor Nicole Galloway.

Galloway now is the only Democratic statewide elected official in Jefferson City. Former Democratic Gov. Jay Nixon appointed her to the position after former Republican Auditor Tom Schweich killed himself in 2015.

Jefferson County Chief Deputy Auditor Kristy Apprill now is the only Republican who has opened a campaign committee to seek the statewide auditor's seat.

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