Missouri › Jasper County › Missouri House District 161
2 candidates are tracked for Missouri House District 161 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Thomas Ross and Aaron Joseph Metzger. Candidate information follows official Jasper County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
Republican nominee Thomas Ross withdrew from the race in early September 2026, and on September 5 the Jasper County Republican Central Committee selected Louise Secker as the replacement nominee and said it would work with election officials to place her on the November 3 ballot, per Newstalk KZRG; the Secretary of State's certified list still carries Ross, so this page lists him until the state confirms the substitution (re-verify). Thomas Ross (Republican), Aaron Joseph Metzger (Democratic) meet on the November 3 ballot. Missouri has no runoffs; the August 4 primary winner of each party is the nominee, and unopposed nominees still print. The field is the Missouri Secretary of State's certified general election candidate list (certified August 25, 2026). This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.
Republican
Thomas Ross is the Republican nominee for Missouri House District 161 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Missouri Secretary of State's certified general election candidate list. No campaign website or questionnaire response was found as of September 6, 2026.
Democratic
Aaron Joseph Metzger is a CT technologist who has worked the night shift at a Joplin hospital for 13 years, per his campaign site. He lives in Joplin with his wife and daughter.
Source: candidate campaign site, roster verified 2026-09-06.
Campaign site →