State Senator
August 4, 2026 · State Senate District 34; Missouri · State senate district · primary
How do we calculate vote impact?
Vote impact = representation (how much weight one vote carries here, the smaller the district's population, the higher the representation) + decisiveness (how likely this race is to be close, based on past results and number of candidates).
Representation: Low · 11 out of 100
This district is large for its type, so each vote is a smaller slice of the outcome. About 188,192 people live here.
score = 100 × ln(largest population ÷ this district's) ÷ ln(largest ÷ smallest), rounded to 2 decimals = 100 × ln(190,242 ÷ 188,192) ÷ ln(190,242 ÷ 172,690) = 11.19, comparing state senate districts in MO (grades: 66+ high, 33+ average, otherwise low)
Decisiveness: Unknown
No past results for this contest yet.
Low representation + unknown decisiveness → Below average vote impact.
Some data is missing, so this rating is based on partial information and capped at "High".
State Senator is responsible for:
- Voting on state laws and the state budget
- Representing their district in the state senate
- Confirming certain governor appointments in many states
- Helping district residents deal with state agencies
Affected Areas: Environment and Public Health, Reduce Wealth Gap, Anti-Corruption, Government Efficiency, Healthcare Affordability, Government Spending Reduction, Public Safety and Crime Control, Housing Affordability, Social Programs and Welfare, Public Education Quality, Gun Control, Women's Reproductive Rights, Election Integrity, Personal Income Tax Reduction, Data Privacy, Civil Rights, Corporate Accountability, Public Infrastructure
Candidates
Mike Jones
Republican · declared
Mike Jones is a Republican member of the Missouri House of Representatives for District 12, elected in 2024 and in his second year, and a candidate in the August 4, 2026 Republican primary for Missouri Senate District 34. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1997 to 2001, performing maintenance on gunships, and sits on the House Veterans and Armed Forces Committee. He gave up his bid for re-election to the House on March 30, 2026 and filed for the Senate seat the following day. He is endorsed by Missouri Right to Life and is the only candidate in the race endorsed by the Missouri Fraternal Order of Police.
Records: Public Safety and Crime Control 2 for
Pam May
Democratic · declared
Pam May is a Democratic candidate in the August 4, 2026 primary for Missouri Senate District 34. She lives in St. Joseph and works as a legal secretary and paralegal at Legal Aid of Western Missouri. She previously ran for Missouri's 6th congressional district in 2024. She has not held elected public office.
Ryan Gerster
Republican · declared
Ryan Gerster is a restaurant and pub owner in St. Joseph, Missouri and a candidate in the August 4, 2026 Republican primary for Missouri Senate District 34. It is his first run for office, conducted without a campaign committee and without major donors. He spent 15 years in the Army National Guard, six of them on active duty. He has not held elected public office.
Sean Pouche
Republican · declared
Sean Pouche is a Republican member of the Missouri House of Representatives from Parkville, finishing his sixth year in the chamber, and a candidate in the August 4, 2026 Republican primary for Missouri Senate District 34. He studied at the United States Merchant Marine Academy and went on to a career in the U.S. Navy Reserve, retiring as a commander. In the 2026 session he served on the House committees on fiscal oversight and legislative review and on the Veterans and Armed Forces Committee. He is seeking the seat being vacated by term-limited Senate Majority Leader Tony Luetkemeyer.
Records: Public Safety and Crime Control 1 for
Shereka Barnes
Democratic · declared
Shereka Barnes is Vice President of the Park Hill School District Board of Education and a Democratic candidate in the August 4, 2026 primary for Missouri Senate District 34, which covers Platte County and much of Buchanan County. A Kansas City native and graduate of Missouri Western State University, she entered the race in April 2026. She has been named a 2026 Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate.
Records: Public Education Quality 1 for
Election sources
Source: s1.sos.mo.gov
Source: sos.mo.gov