2013 Missouri's 8th congressional district special election

A special election for Missouri's 8th congressional district was held on June 4, 2013, following the resignation of Jo Ann Emerson on January 22, 2013, to head the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. The Republican and Democratic parties selected their own nominees without a primary.

The deadline to request an absentee ballot for the special election was May 29, 2013. A televised candidate's forum took place on May 27, 2013, at Southeast Missouri State University-River Campus; all party candidates participated while the write-in candidate did not attend. In the general election on June 4, 2013, Republican Jason Smith received 67.1% of the vote, beating Democrat Steve Hodges (27.4%), Constitutional Doug Enyart (3.6%), and Libertarian Bill Slantz (1.5%).

Republican Party

 * Jason Smith, Speaker Pro Tem of the Missouri House of Representatives

Declared/Not Selected

 * Wendell Bailey, former State Treasurer of Missouri and U.S. Representative
 * Dan W. Brown, State Senator
 * Jason Crowell, former state senator
 * Kevin P. Engler, state representative, former state senator, former mayor of Farmington
 * Peter Kinder, Lieutenant Governor of Missouri
 * Scott Lipke, former state representative
 * Bob Parker, local resident and landowner
 * Todd Richardson, State Representative
 * Lloyd Smith, State Republican Party executive director
 * Pedro Sotelo, businessman
 * Sarah Steelman, former state treasurer of Missouri
 * Clint Tracy, state representative and United States Navy Lieutenant commander
 * John Tyrrell, attorney
 * Wayne Wallingford, state senator, United States Air Force Lieutenant Colonel and Silver Star recipient

Declined

 * John Jordan, Cape Girardeau County Sheriff

Democratic Party

 * Steve Hodges, State Representative District 149

Declared/Not Selected

 * Todd Mahn, businessman
 * Linda Black, state representative
 * Jack Rushin, chiropractor and Democratic nominee for the seat in 2012
 * Terry Swinger, former state representative

Declined

 * Russ Carnahan, former U.S. Representative

Libertarian Party

 * Bill Slantz, businessman

Declared/Not Selected

 * Jason Williams (withdrew before party meeting)

Constitution Party

 * Doug Enyart, U.S. Marine and professional forester

Independent/Other

 * Dr. Robert George (write-in candidate)
 * Thomas Brown (write-in candidate)
 * Wayne L. Byington (write-in candidate)
 * Theo (Ted) Brown, Sr. (write-in candidate)