Statewide offices to have new look; Congress, maybe not

Blunt and Democratic Secretary of State Jason Kander easily won their parties' nomination in the Senate race.

[...] both have been essentially campaigning against each other for months.

William Lacy Clay defeated state Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal and St. Louis school board member Bill Haas to win the Democratic primary.

University of Missouri law professor Josh Hawley defeated state Sen. Kurt Schaefer for the Republican nomination for attorney general, a post being vacated by two-term office holder Chris Koster, a Democrat who is running for governor.

Jay Ashcroft, son of former Missouri governor, U.S. senator and U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft, defeated state Sen. Will Kraus and Kansas City educator Roi Chinn for the GOP nomination.

On the Democratic side, Robin Smith, a former TV news anchor in St. Louis and political novice, outdistanced two Kansas City residents.

Roy Blunt, now a U.S. senator, served from 1985 to 1993; his son Matt was elected for one term in 2000 before winning election as governor.

Another candidate with a long family history in Missouri politics won nomination in the race for lieutenant governor.

Former state Rep. Judy Baker won the Democratic nomination for state treasurer, the office that serves as custodian for state funds and is responsible for holding unclaimed property.

For the second time in four months, voters in Ferguson approved a tax increase to help the St. Louis suburb rebound from the financial hit it took following the fatal police shooting of Michael Brown.

City Manager De'Carlon Seewood said the money will allow the hiring of five police officers, avoid firefighter layoffs and keep a firehouse open.