Hudson wins MO Senate seat

Two Republican contenders for the Missouri Senate seat lately vacated by Karla Eslinger ran a hotly contested race leading up to last Tuesday’s Primary. Brad Hudson emerged victorious over Travis Smith with 52.6% of the vote across the seven-county district, according to results from the Missouri Secretary of State’s office. 

 

Winning numbers in each county split roughly along home-field advantages – in some counties by only a slim margin. Smith, a West Plains native, carried Howell County with 65% of the vote. Smith also led in Douglas, Ozark, and Shannon Counties. 

 

In Stone and Taney Counties, Hudson pulled off the win. In those two counties alone, more than twenty-one percent of the entire electorate showed up to vote for Hudson. 

 

With a final vote tally of 18,488 to 16,656, and no opponent in November, Hudson will take the seat on January 1. 

 

Howell County News had an opportunity to chat with the victor Friday afternoon. Hudson said he has so many great memories on the campaign trail in Howell County that it was difficult to pick a favorite, but he did mention a visit in September 2023 to the Mountain View Community Outreach Center. 

 

“I really enjoyed stopping there and being prayed for there,” Hudson said Friday. 

 

Looking forward to getting to work, Hudson told Howell County News he is not waiting until January. With no opponent in the general election, he will begin setting up his office now and strategizing on how to pre-file or champion the issues he spoke about on the campaign trail. 

 

He first mentioned the Border Security Enforcement Act that he led during his last term as a Representative. He intends to push forward or otherwise support similar legislation in the Senate and see it become law. 

 

Other issues on which he may not personally file legislation, but promises champion, are “the life issue,” which he said, “dovetails with our [Missouri] Constitution.” He mentioned Initiative Petition reform and his commitment to keep pro-choice amendments out of the State Constitution. 

 

“Don’t be surprised if I’m leading the charge for pro-life, pro-Second Amendment, or any issues that could be detrimental to rural Missouri,” Hudson said. 

 

“To everyone who supported my opponent, and he was a formidable political opponent, I wish him well. I want everyone to know who supported him to know that they have a voice in me. My door is always open,” Hudson said. 

 

“I would not have won without the loyal, hardworking, God-fearing workers and volunteers…We were successful because of those folks,” Hudson said.