These Republicans are vying for Cleaver's 5th District
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Republican voters from Troost Avenue in Kansas City to Rocheport near Columbia will decide on Tuesday which candidate will battle for Missouri's new 5th Congressional District in November's general election.
Why it matters: The winner will face longtime Democratic incumbent Emanuel Cleaver.
The intrigue: After Missouri's congressional map shakeup, only one Republican candidate lives in the 5th District, the Kansas City Star reports — Brad Patty.
- The U.S. Constitution requires only that candidates live in the state, although Missouri politicians have taken issue with out-of-district candidates.
We asked each candidate about the issues they're running on and their priority should they get elected.
Republicans
Micah Beebe, a real estate broker in the KC metro, says he wants to bring "fiscal sanity" to Congress by cutting spending and supporting small businesses.
- He describes himself as a Christian conservative and says he will defend "values of faith, family and freedom."
Rick Brattin, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who lives in Harrisonville, tells Axios he wants to retain a Republican majority in Congress and "ensure President Trump's America First policies" advance.
- "I will be tough on illegal immigration, fight for our Constitution, and work to get big government bureaucracy out of the way," he tells Axios.
Taylor Burks is a U.S. Navy veteran and Navy Reserve commander who wants to "represent the people in our rural and suburban areas," who he says have been forgotten by career politicians.
- His priorities include national security, affordability and growing the economy, with ambitions to serve on the Armed Services and Agriculture committees.
Berton Knox is a U.S. Navy veteran who says his primary concerns are "election integrity, immigration, and Social Security."
Brad Patty is an Army veteran who says he wants to eliminate income tax on all but the wealthiest 1% of Americans and cut $500 billion from the federal budget with the help of AI.
- He also wants to use Congress' criminal referral power to the Justice Department against "plenty of criminal activity."
Brett Hueffmeier, a business professor who taught in China, did not respond to our questions.
Other candidates
Cleaver, who lives in Kansas City, is running unchallenged.
Todd Becker is running as the only independent.
Randy Langkraehr is running as the only libertarian.
What's next: Polls are open 6am-7pm Tuesday.
Go deeper: Missouri's 4th District candidates weigh in before primary.