Vivek Malek wins Missouri treasurer’s race, is first person of color elected statewide

Missouri Treasurer Vivek Malek, a Republican, won a full term on Tuesday, defeating Democrat Mark Osmack to become the first person of color to win a statewide general election in state history.

Malek, an immigrant from India who became a lawyer, ran a campaign focused on typical GOP themes. He promoted his work as treasurer by pulling out of investments in Chinese companies and his support for former President Donald Trump and a wall along the southern border.

Osmack posted on social media around 11 p.m. that he had called Malek to concede the race.

As of 11:15 p.m., Malek had 55.9% of the vote to Osmack's 40.1%, with 3,205 of 3572 precincts reporting, according to unofficial results from the Missouri Secretary of State's Office.

"I want to thank the people of Missouri for the opportunity to serve a full term as State Treasurer. It has been an honor to serve as a steward for taxpayers, and I will continue working hard to ensure state funds are invested properly, unclaimed property is returned to its rightful owners, and programs such as MOBUCK$, MOST 529, MOABLE and MO Scholars are available to serve more families across the state," Malek said in a statement.

The state treasurer serves as Missouri's chief financial officer and is tasked with protecting state funds from fraud and abuse. The position manages the state's revenue, oversees the disbursement of funds, and handles the state's more than $6 billion investment portfolio.

Osmack, an Army veteran, ran on promises to be "focused on the bottom line - not politics." Democrats last won an election for treasurer in 2012.

In the final days of the race, Osmack announced a plan to use Missouri crops and products in school cafeterias. The initiative would have involved farmers and producers contracting with the state.

Osmack also criticized Malek's focus on national Republican issues, especially his interest in immigration politics. "I don't know if the Missouri Treasurer has been to the Mexico that matters to Missourians...but that's where I'm at tonight," Osmack posted online last week as he visited, Mexico, Missouri.

Before entering politics Malek, who has worked as a lawyer in Missouri since 2006, focused mainly on legal immigration litigation and business immigration consulting. He immigrated to Cape Girardeau in 2001 from India, where he was born and raised.

Gov. Mike Parson appointed Malek as treasurer in early 2023 to replace Scott Fitzpatrick, a Republican who became state auditor. Malek, who had kept a law office in the St. Louis area, was a relatively unknown name statewide when Parson named him to the job.

Malek is the first person of color to hold statewide office in Missouri — and is now the first person of color to win office statewide. He has said that when he came to Missouri to attend Southeast Missouri State University, he had just $300 in his pocket and took a graduate assistant position to help pay his tuition.

Malek holds a bachelor's degree and a law degree from Mahrishi Dayanand University in Rohtak, India. He also has a master's degree from Southeast Missouri State University and a master's of law degree from the University of Illinois College of Law.