Falkner easily wins re-election for District 10, Pouche claims District 13

Nov. 5—Two Northwest Missouri incumbents will return to the state's House of Representatives after defeating their Democratic challengers by an easy margin.

Republican Bill Falkner will serve a fourth term in Jefferson City after defeating Democratic challenger Andrew Gibson on Tuesday. Falkner claimed more than 63% of the vote en route to winning Missouri's District 10 seat, which covers northwestern Buchanan County.

"It's very humbling really when you think about people going to the polls and voting for you," Falkner said. "I've been blessed to have the support that I have received from the citizens of St. Joe, and I worked very hard for them down in Jefferson City. My opponent and I, I think we ran a very clean campaign. There was no negative ads that I know of on either side. I'd like to thank him for working hard."

Gibson, a first-time challenger, received 37.4% of the vote.

Falkner was elected to his first two-year term in November 2018, winning re-election in 2020, 2022 and now 2024. Falkner previously served as mayor of St. Joseph for eight years.

Falkner plans to focus his efforts on advancing the 139th Airlift Wing, constructing a second bridge that would cross the Missouri River and supporting local government.

Incumbent Pouche wins District 13

House race

In the race for Missouri's District 13 House seat, Republican incumbent Sean Pouche defeated Democratic candidate Andrea Denning by a near 2-to-1 margin.

Pouche claimed victory with 67% of the vote — approximately 14,418 votes — compared to Denning, who received 7,252 votes during Tuesday's election.

"I'm very thankful and very fortunate that people trusted me to go back to Jeff City," Pouche said. "To be their voice and to just be, you know, a little common sense in the world."

Pouche has held the District 13 seat for two terms. Now re-elected, he plans to continue working on a bill that would lower insulin and epinephrine costs.

Pouche's top policies include promoting economic development and business climate in Missouri, supporting ethics in government, protecting the right to life, supporting public safety and law enforcement in our communities and more.

District 9 Rep. Dean Van Schoiack and District 11 Rep. Brenda Shields, both incumbent Republicans, are running unopposed in Tuesday's election.