New House speaker, majority floor leader mark state House changes

Republican House leadership changed up this week following midterm elections, while familiar faces lead Democrats.

State Rep. Alex Riley, R-Springfield, was chosen as the new House Speaker. Riley replaces Rep. Jon Patterson, who had reached his term limit in the House and ran unsuccessfully for the state Senate.

Democrats elected Rep. Ashley Aune, D-Kansas City, for a second term as House minority leader.

Riley, who had been majority floor leader, was first elected in 2020. He also works as a lawyer.

Major legislation sponsored by Riley includes HJR 73, which put Amendment 3 on Tuesday's ballot. The constitutional amendment, which would have banned abortion except in cases of rape and incest as well as enshrine an existing state ban on gender-affirming care for minors, was defeated by voters.

Rep. Chad Perkins, R-Bowling Green, was reappointed speaker pro tem. The former police officer and current radio host was first elected to the House in 2020.

A major piece of legislation sponsored by Perkins was HB 2061, designed to curb antisemitism in schools by requiring institutions to adopt policies treating it similarly to racial discrimination.

In 2024, he filed unsuccessful legislation to abolish the state's death penalty, breaking from typical party position by arguing abolishment is more in line with his pro-life stance.

Rep. Darin Chappell, R-Rogersville, was appointed majority floor leader. Chappell is a Navy veteran and uncle to Missouri singer Chappell Roan. Prior to the legislature, he was an adjunct government professor at Missouri State University.

First elected in 2022, Chappell has pushed for tax reform with mixed success. A bill he sponsored in 2025, SB 160, prevents racial discrimination in schools based on hair or hair texture, expands protections for student religious organizations and introduces stricter hazing regulations.

Rep. Jim Schulte, R-New Bloomfield, replaces outgoing Rep. Lane Roberts as assistant majority floor leader. Schulte, a cattle farmer, was first elected in 2022.

Schulte co-sponsored HB 2461, which places hemp-derived cannabinoid products under the same regulations as other intoxicating marijuana products, meaning they'll only be sold at licensed dispensaries. The law takes effect Nov. 12.

Rep. Willard Haley, R-Eldon, is stepping into the role of majority caucus whip. As a senior representative in his last term in office, Haley plans to continue representing his constituents fairly.

“My first and foremost concerns have always been my constituents,” Haley said. “I think that my election results of 76% of the vote shows that I listen.”

Rep. Bennie Cook, D-Houston, will remain as majority caucus chair. Cook, who works in law enforcement in Texas County, was first elected in 2020. Cook has focused on pharmaceutical and mental health policy.

Rep. Carolyn Caton, R-Blue Springs, replaces outgoing Rep. Ann Kelley as majority caucus secretary. Caton was first elected in 2024 and has had a career in transportation for over 25 years.

In the 2026 session Caton was part of a bipartisan coalition for HB 2180, which intends to modernize policy regarding mail sent by state agencies.

Democratic leaders In a news release, Aune said she was “honored to receive the continued support of my colleagues, but I’m also fully aware of the immense responsibility that is ahead of us as this caucus holds the line against a majority that is increasingly desperate to cling to power.”

Aune has served in the House since 2020. She was minority whip in 2020 before stepping up in leadership in 2022. She works with civilian and military leadership in Missouri and is also the co-chair of the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry's Technology Caucus.

She sponsored a bill that allowed people to legally separate or divorce during marriage while pregnant. She also sponsored a bill that adjusted sales taxes for children's services.

Rep. Marlon Anderson, D-St. Louis, was reelected as assistant minority floor leader. He has served in the House since 2020. He worked as a public defender and now owns his own firm. He participated in legislation that addresses law enforcement shootings during highway patrol stops.

Rep. Eric Woods, D-Kansas City, has been elected minority caucus chair. Woods was first elected in 2022 and previously was minority caucus secretary. He attended the University of Missouri where he served as student body president. He has served on a variety of boards of nonprofit and civic boards and committees such as the MU Extension Council in Clay County.

Rep. Stephanie Boykin, D-Florissant, was elected minority caucus vice chair, taking the place of state Rep. Kimberly Ann-Collins, D-St. Louis.

Boykin, who was first elected in 2024, is a 40-year veteran of the Air Force who also taught language arts in both St. Louis and Columbia schools.

She spent her first term sponsoring several pieces of legislation focused on both veteran care and K-12 education. One example is HB 2773, which would require school districts to teach cursive.

Rep. Mark Boyko, D-Kirkwood, was elected as minority caucus whip. First elected in 2024, Boyko practices law.

In his first term, Boyko sponsored several bills aimed at reforming utility law and regulations, though most of them languished in committee.

Rep. Bridget Walsh Moore, D-St. Louis, was reelected as caucus policy chair. Walsh Moore was first elected in 2020 and previously worked in manufacturing. She is in her final House term.

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Rep. Pattie Mansur, D-Kansas City, was elected as the minority caucus secretary. Mansur was first elected in 2024. She earned her bachelor's degree in journalism and master's degree in business administration from the University of Missouri in Kansas City. She sits on four committees, which include Children and Families, Commerce, Health and Mental Health and Higher Education and Workforce Development.

One of Mansur's passions is mental health. HB 2318, sponsored by Mansur, aims to prohibit any person or entity that develops AI in the state from advertising that AI is, or is able to act as, a mental health professional.

New House speaker, majority floor leader mark state House changes

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