Alford reelected to third term in Congress
Published 12:23 am Wednesday, November 4, 2026
|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
U.S. Rep. Mark Alford was reelected to a third term representing Missouri’s fourth congressional district during the Tuesday, Nov. 3 election.
Alford won with 64% of the vote, defeating Democratic nominee Jordan Herrera.
“Tonight, the people of Missouri’s fourth congressional district have once again placed their trust in me,” Alford said. “I want to make you a solemn promise that I will never take that trust for granted. I will never forget who sent me there, and I will never stop fighting for you.”
Alford thanked his congressional and campaign staff for their assistance. He also credited his family.
“My friends, tonight, it’s about winning much more than an election,” Alford said. “It’s about the kind of country we’re going to leave to our children and grandchildren. It’s about whether or not the American dream will remain alive for the next generation.”
Alford went on to say he believes Missouri’s strength comes from the people, something he learned as a news anchor in Kansas City and during his first two terms in Congress.
“The strength of Missouri is not found in the halls of Congress,” Alford said. “It’s found around kitchen tables, it’s found in churches on Sunday mornings, it’s found in the cornfields of Missouri, it’s found in the auction houses and the small businesses on Main Street … that is the America worth fighting for.”
In a social media post, Herrera offered thanks for the support he received.
“I am so incredibly proud of my team,” Herrera said. “I’m so proud of everything I was able to do. I’m so sorry it wasn’t enough. Make no mistake. I am nowhere near finished. I’m disappointed. But I’ve learned so many lessons. Where to build relationships and your coalition. It’s not over. This was my first time ever running for any elected seat in my life.”
In District 5, current Missouri District 31 Senator Rick Brattin lost to Democratic incumbent Emanuel Cleaver II. Cleaver received 69.491% of the vote.
In a statement, Brattin turned back to the court battle that ultimately ended with him running against Cleaver under a previous format, rather than a redrawn map that placed District 5 in rural Missouri counties including Johnson and Pettis.
Missouri voters struck down the redrawn map through Proposition A on Tuesday.
“I want to thank the people of Missouri for the honor of being the Republican nominee for Congress in the 5th District, and I want to thank President Trump for his endorsement,” Brattin said. “Unfortunately, the Missouri Supreme Court chose to make an unprecedented decision to benefit Democrats, swapping the congressional map after primary votes had already been certified, disenfranchising 1.2 million Missouri voters in the process and making it nearly impossible for a Republican to win in this district. In the future, I hope that the people of Missouri will be served by a Congressional map like the Missouri First map that better represents our state. The 5th District deserves a Congressman who will fight for them.”
Cleaver had not published a statement as of late Tuesday.
Joe Andrews can be reached at 660-747-8123.
