JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KTVI) – A Missouri representative is proposing a repeal of a state law that currently prevents citizens with a felony history from running for a local and state office.
Republican Rep. Michael Davis of Belton, a suburb of Kansas City, pre-filed House Bill 318 on Dec. 3.
The bill, named the "Donald J. Trump Election Qualification Act," would make it possible for those who have been guilty of a felony charge to run in a Missouri office "if otherwise qualified."
While Missouri allows convicted felons to vote after completing their sentence and to run for a federal office, it prohibits them from becoming candidates for local and state offices. Davis calls this a discrepancy within the qualifications of running for different offices.
"I believe that we should punish those who do wrong, but once they've completed the terms of their sentence, we should allow individuals to reintergrate into society," he said. "They are citizens. They have the ability to work and pay taxes, and one of the aspects of being a citizen is being represented by your government and deciding who should represent you."
Davis had previously sponsored the same legislation in 2021. It was introduced and referred to the Elections and Elected Officials Committee, but did not go any further.
"Based on my limited conversations, there was some hesitancy from members of my party — Republicans — about allowing those convicted of crimes from seeking office," Davis said of his former legislation. "This was before this (2024) election … Democrats, I thought before, were all on board about restorative justice. It was members of my own party who were hesitant to do so."
On May 30, Donald Trump was found guilty on 34 felony counts in a trial of falsifying business records to hide hush money. The conviction has brought a new meaning to Davis' bill, as the former president will be going back to the White House.
"I've had some hesitancy from elected officials, and then I remind them, 'Well, you know, I voted for a felon this past November, and you probably did too.' And they say, 'Oh, well yeah, I guess I did.' It further highlights that voters are comfortable with voting for felons once they know the situation," he said.
Missouri's current law was enacted in 2015.
Davis plans to have more conversations with his legislative colleagues on both sides to move the bill forward in the upcoming session.
"I don't necessarily believe people should be electing more felons or should not be electing more felons, but I think voters should have the option to decide that on their own. This is just giving more voice to the districts to decide on who should represent them," he said.
