COLUMBIA, Mo. – Months of rumors have been confirmed as former state representative and congressional candidate Judy Baker filed paperwork to form her candidate committee to seek the Democratic nomination for state treasurer.
Baker, who served two terms in the state House representing parts of Columbia, is the second Democrat to file for the seat – the other being Pat Contreras of Kansas City. Current state treasurer Clint Zweifel is term-limited.
Baker ran for Congress in 2008, losing in the general to Blaine Luetkemeyer, and also in 2012 for lt. governor, losing in a crowded Democratic primary.
Both Contreras and Baker have held positions within the Obama administration – Contreras within the U.S. State Department and Baker as a regional director of the Department of Health and Human Services.
State Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Glendale, is the only declared Republican candidate.
Rachael Herndon was the editor at The Missouri Times and also produced This Week in Missouri Politics, published Missouri Times Magazine, and co-hosted the #MoLeg podcast. She joined The Missouri Times in 2014, returning to political reporting after working as a campaign and legislative staffer.
Rachael studied at the University of Missouri – Columbia. She lives in Jefferson City with her husband, Brandon, and their two children.
