Phelps wins reelection to Missouri House District 54

Published 12:37 am Wednesday, November 4, 2026

By Joe Andrews

WARRENSBURG — Brandon Phelps will continue to represent District 54 in the Missouri House of Representatives.

Voters reelected the Republican incumbent to a second two-year term during the Tuesday, Nov. 3, General Election. Unofficial results indicate he received 60.479% of the vote. Phelps had 6,989 votes while Democratic challenger Taigan Plummer had 4,567 or 39.521%.

The 54th District includes Warrensburg, Centerview and Holden, along with rural areas of northern Johnson County.

“I just really appreciate the people of the 54th who got out and voted,” Phelps said. “I appreciate the support, their trust and their willingness to send me back to Jefferson City. I’m looking forward to getting back there and doing the job of the people.”

Phelps, a Warrensburg business owner, described the feeling of being elected a second time compared to the first.

“I was happy two years ago, I’m happy now,” Phelps said. “Like I said, I appreciate the trust and the support of the people of this district. I’m looking forward to getting back and doing the job. This time, I know what’s going on when we get there. Hopefully that benefits us all.”

Plummer, also of Warrensburg, ran as the Democratic candidate for the first time.

She received approximately 10% more of the vote than 2024 candidate Eric Stevens.

“What we saw tonight was actually more voters showing up tonight to vote on what they cared about,” Plummer said. “And we saw tonight a near 10 point swing. That speaks for itself. We saw Johnson County come out and say they’re ready for change. Unfortunately it wasn’t the result that we wanted.”

Including portions of Johnson County to fall into House District 57 – which was won by former Warrensburg School Board member and business owner Matt Sergent – the election saw a 47.35% turnout.

“I think it’s fantastic that people are taking advantage of their right to go out and let their voice be heard,” Phelps said. “I congratulate the people of the district for doing so. That’s one of the greatest things about this country – we have the right to do that. I’m glad people are taking that up.”

Despite the loss, Plummer said she doesn’t intend to fade anytime soon.

“We have a lot of work to do, but I knew going into this race that it could be a two-cycle race,” Plummer said. “I’m fully prepared to continue fighting for Johnson County and be the person who keeps showing up, not the person who shows up to run once and then you never see again. Why I ran in the first place: I’ve shown up for Johnson County. I’ve lived here since 2004, since I was three years old. I’m not going anywhere.”

Phelps previously told the Star-Journal he plans to continue pursuing a number of his bills that did not see through the legislative process during the 2026 session.

The list includes HB 2072, which would modify the offense of fourth-degree assault against vulnerable victims; HB 2074, which would create the Missouri Disabled Veterans’ Dependents Tuition Waiver to provide college tuition waivers for the children, stepchildren and spouses of certain veterans; and HB 3112, which would create provisions relating to the conceal-carry rights of retired law enforcement officers.

The 104th session of the Missouri General Assembly is slated to begin Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2027.

“The things we discussed, they’re all on my agenda,” Phelps said. “We’ll just have to see how the year and the calendar year play out. But definitely, I have a lot of priorities. I hope to knock out as many of them as I can.”

Joe Andrews can be reached at 660-747-8123.