Northwest Missouri state Senator Brad Lager has moved quickly to take advantage of an opening in the lieutenant governor's race.
The Savannah Republican announced his candidacy for the state's No. 2 executive on Monday, just days after RepublicanHouse Speaker Steven Tilleyannounced he was dropping out of the lieutenant governor's race.
Tilley, who is going through a divorce, cited a desire to spend more time with his teenage daughters.
Although he is the first to officially jump in, other Republicans now also are considering the race. The office will be open because RepublicanLt. Gov. Peter Kinderis expected to challenge DemocraticGov. Jay Nixonin next year's elections.
Lager has experience running for statewide office, as he narrowly lost the 2008 State Treasurer’s raceto Democrat Clint Zweifel, and there had been speculation that he was considering a run for governor. Lager was first elected to the State Senate in 2006 and easily won re-election in 2010.
So far, the only other declared GOP candidate for Lt. Governor is Michael Carter, who ran for the same office as a Democrat in 2008.
Meanwhile, two Democrats are running for Lt. Governor: Party chair and former State Auditor Susan Montee, and conservation commissionerBecky Plattner.
Former GOP House MemberCynthia Davisis also running for Lt. Governor as a member of the Constitution Party.
