Maries County, Missouri

Missouri Senate District 16

2 candidates are tracked for Missouri Senate District 16 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Bill Hardwick and Virginia Staabs. Candidate information follows official Maries County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Bill Hardwick (Republican), Virginia Staabs (Democratic) meet on the November 3 ballot. Missouri has no runoffs; the August 4 primary winner of each party is the nominee, and unopposed nominees still print. The field is the Missouri Secretary of State's certified general election candidate list (certified August 25, 2026). This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.

What this office does

State legislator. State legislators write and vote on state laws and the state budget, which fund schools, roads, prisons, universities and health programs, and set the rules for local governments and elections. Each member represents one district and serves on committees that shape bills before a floor vote. Terms are two years in most state houses and four in most state senates.

This race. Elected by district: only voters who live in the district see this race on their ballot.

Missouri › Maries County › Missouri Senate District 16

Bill Hardwick

Republican

Biography

Bill Hardwick currently serves as the state representative for House District 121, covering part of Pulaski County and Fort Leonard Wood, first elected to the Missouri House in 2020, per The Missouri Times. An Iraq War veteran who led combat route-clearance patrols in Baghdad, he served 24 years in the Missouri National Guard and is a University of Missouri law graduate who has worked as a prosecutor, per the same source. No campaign website was found as of September 20, 2026.

Virginia Staabs

Democratic

Biography

Virginia Staabs is a Richland, Missouri resident with more than a decade of experience as a notary public and signing agent in multiple states, per her campaign site. She founded 'What's Up in Missouri Elections,' an organization that helps residents understand and engage in the electoral process, per the same source.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

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Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for Missouri Senate District 16 in 2026?

When is the Missouri Senate District 16 election in Missouri?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Missouri are on the Missouri election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Maries County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Maries County and state election office filings. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Missouri election office, or see the full Maries County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Maries County ballot

2 tracked races in Maries County, Missouri. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

See all 2 Maries County races

Candidate profiles

Bill Hardwick, full profile Virginia Staabs, full profile Official Missouri election office