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Jeff Roorda announces plans to run for state Senate

Hannibal, Mo. — Rep. Jeff Roorda, D-113, announced his intentions to run for the 22 District SenateROORDA.aspx seat during a press conference at the Missouri Democrat Days in Hannibal, Mo., Saturday morning.

Roorda, who is in his fourth term as a Representative, said he would make fighting for “unions and working families,” a top priority during his campaign and his time in the Senate.

Sen. Scott Sifton, D-1, said he was “excited and honored” to be introducing Roorda and said he would give Roorda his “full support.”

The senatorial district currently is held by Sen. Ryan McKenna, who will be term limited out during 2014.

Ryan Burke, general consultant for Roorda’s campaign, said Roorda was “a centrist, moderate Democrat for a centrist, moderate district.”

Roorda spoke at length about the legislation moving through the Republican-controlled House aimed at eliminating the prevailing wage, calling it a “Draconian” measure and “an attack on working families.”

“We need to send moderate, common sense Democrats to Jefferson City to combat what I see as a Republican party that is getting more and more extreme,” Roorda said.

The District has been largely under Democratic control in recent years, although Burke said he expected the Republicans to “heavily” target the district. When questioned about whether Roorda’s tough stances on labor could spur conservative backlash, Burke was unconcerned.

“You don’t lose when you fight for working families, ever,” Burke said.