Smith, Stewart join the race for state rep.

Familiar names on Howell County ballots have joined the race to represent District 154 in the Missouri House of Representatives.

Incumbent Rep. Lisa Durnell (R‑Willow Springs) declared her intention to seek re‑election on the opening day of filing, Feb. 24. She will face challengers in both the Republican primary and the general election.

Republican Primary

Another Republican and former state representative announced this week that he is seeking the District 154 seat.

Travis Smith, of Pottersville, is hoping to return to Jefferson City after previously serving as the District 155 (Douglas County) representative. Smith ran for a state Senate seat in 2024, falling to fellow Republican Brad Hudson in the primary.

“Our M.O. is not NO,” Smith said in his campaign announcement. “The people of this district deserve a representative who shows up, works hard, and gets things done. I’ve done it before, and I’m ready to do it again.”

Smith’s campaign release identifies him as “100 percent pro‑life and a strong defender of the Second Amendment.”

Smith said his decision to run again comes directly from encouragement he has received across the district.

“I’ve had folks from all walks of life reach out and ask me to run,” Smith said. “Not because of what someone else isn’t doing, but because they know what we can accomplish together.”

Durnell defeated two other Republican challengers in 2024, earning an 18‑point victory over opponents Mark B. Collins and Larry Lindeman. Her campaign emphasized conservative positions on both social and fiscal issues.

During her freshman term, Durnell has been a vocal supporter of pro‑life and pro‑Second Amendment legislation. In her first week in office, she drew attention by voting against Jon Patterson for Speaker of the House, one of only 10 representatives to do so.

“I have honored my campaign promises to fight for the people and be a ‘consistent conservative’. My voting record reflects that conservative stance, beginning with the very first vote I took for the most conservative candidate for Speaker of the House. It takes courage to cast a vote like that, and I have proven time and time again that I have the courage needed to vote for the people of my district, even when it is unpopular in Jefferson City," Durnell said of her first year. 

On her re-election bid, Durnell commented, "I have done my very best to be transparent with the people of the district and state and give them honest updates about what is going on at THEIR state capital. If I am re-elected, I am committed to continue giving open and honest updates and maintaining my conservative voting record."

Democratic Challenger

Deep‑red Howell County does not always produce a two‑party race in November following the primary election, but that will be the case this year.

Joanna “JoJo” Stewart, of Willow Springs, is once again running on the Democratic ticket. The winner of the Republican primary in August will face Stewart in the November general election.

In her campaign announcement, she said, "We currently have lawmakers who fully believe that they should rule rather than govern, and their billionaire friends should have a greater voice than the average Missouri citizen. The past two Mo legislative sessions have proved that through various forms of legislation. Like the increase in utility bills, and giving billions to sports stadiums that most of us can't afford to visit.



Even though our schools are struggling to stay open, our roads are falling apart, and healthcare (Especially mental healthcare) is not accessible, let alone affordable. It's time to get representation that will actually work for the district. Not for the donors, or not for the name in the papers and photo ops. Because our district deserves more.