Newton County Sample Ballot & Voter Guide 2026
14 candidates are on the November 3, 2026 ballot across 11 Newton County races, led by the Newton County Presiding Commissioner contest.
County offices
Presiding CommissionerMark Bridges (R) · Martin "Mad Dog" Lindstedt (Libertarian)
Mark Bridges Republican
Mark Bridges has served Newton County in public safety and elected roles since the 1970s, including as a sheriff's deputy before his election as Newton County Sheriff in 1985, and 20 years as Newton County Coroner from 1996 to 2016, per the Joplin Globe. He was elected the county's District 2 Commissioner in 2024 and resigned that seat in February 2026 to return as interim county coroner, per the Neosho Daily News. No campaign website was found as of September 6, 2026.
Martin "Mad Dog" Lindstedt Libertarian
Martin "Mad Dog" Lindstedt appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Newton County Presiding Commissioner, per the county elections office's certified candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 6, 2026; the official election filing is the only verifiable source for Martin "Mad Dog" Lindstedt.
August 4 primary results: Mark Bridges won the Republican nomination with 53.75 percent (5,315 votes) over Richard D. Davidson (25.52 percent, 2,523 votes) and incumbent Daniel Swem (20.73 percent, 2,050 votes). Separately, Martin "Mad Dog" Lindstedt was unopposed for the Libertarian nomination with 100 percent (48 votes); no Democrat filed. Both nominees are on the November 3 ballot, per the Newton County Clerk's official August 4, 2026 primary results, certified August 7, 2026.
Full race pageCommissioner, District 2 (special election, unexpired term)Ron Wallace (R)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Ron Wallace Republican
Ron Wallace is the interim Newton County District 2 Commissioner, appointed to the seat in February 2026, per the county's official website. He spent 31 years with the Seneca School District as a teacher, coach, athletic director and administrator, including as a principal, before retiring and later serving as Seneca School Board president, per FourStatesHomepage. No campaign website was found as of September 6, 2026.
Special election for the balance of the term after Mark Bridges resigned the District 2 seat in February 2026 to return as interim county coroner, per the Newton County Clerk and local press. Ron Wallace, appointed interim commissioner in February 2026, ran unopposed in the August 4 Republican primary, receiving 100 percent (4,247 votes); no Democrat or Libertarian filed. He is unopposed on the November 3 ballot based on available candidate filings, per the Newton County Clerk's official results.
Full race pageClerk of the Circuit CourtShayla Merrell (R)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Shayla Merrell Republican
- Bringing judicial operations and court-management experience to the Circuit Clerk's office
- Guiding residents through court procedures and paperwork with patience and care
Per the campaign site.
About Shayla Merrell
Shayla Merrell is a lifelong Neosho resident with more than 22 years of experience serving Newton County, per her campaign site. She currently works as a Senior Court Program Specialist for the 40th Judicial Circuit Court, collaborating with the Circuit Clerk's office on court management systems, courtroom protocol and financial bookkeeping, per the same source.
August 4 primary result: Shayla Merrell won the Republican nomination with 50.89 percent (4,639 votes) over Sarah Meador (49.11 percent, 4,476 votes); no Democrat or Libertarian filed. Merrell is unopposed on the November 3 ballot based on available candidate filings, per the Newton County Clerk's official results. Sitting Circuit Clerk Patty Krueger did not seek re-election.
Full race pageClerkTami (Renfro) Owens (R)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Tami (Renfro) Owens Republican
Tami (Renfro) Owens is the incumbent Newton County Clerk, having taken office for her first term on January 2, 2019, per the county's official website. No campaign website was found as of September 6, 2026.
August 4 primary result: Tami (Renfro) Owens ran unopposed in the Republican primary, receiving 100 percent (8,761 votes); no Democrat or Libertarian filed. She is unopposed on the November 3 ballot based on available candidate filings, per the Newton County Clerk's official results.
Full race pageRecorder of DeedsJenny Cullers Childers (R)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Jenny Cullers Childers Republican
Jenny Cullers Childers is the incumbent Newton County Recorder of Deeds, first elected in 2022, per the county's official website. No campaign website was found as of September 6, 2026.
August 4 primary result: Jenny Cullers Childers ran unopposed in the Republican primary, receiving 100 percent (8,604 votes); no Democrat or Libertarian filed. She is unopposed on the November 3 ballot based on available candidate filings, per the Newton County Clerk's official results.
Full race pageCollector of RevenueJessica Crawford (R)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Jessica Crawford Republican
Jessica Crawford is the incumbent Newton County Collector of Revenue, per the county's official website. No campaign website was found as of September 6, 2026.
August 4 primary result: Jessica Crawford ran unopposed in the Republican primary, receiving 100 percent (8,563 votes); no Democrat or Libertarian filed. She is unopposed on the November 3 ballot based on available candidate filings, per the Newton County Clerk's official results.
Full race pageProsecuting AttorneyWilliam Lynch (R)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
William Lynch Republican
Lynch has served as Newton County Prosecuting Attorney since appointment by Governor Mike Parson on May 1, 2020, per the campaign site. Before that appointment, Lynch served as an assistant prosecuting attorney in Jasper County. Lynch is a graduate of Joplin High School, Missouri Southern State University and the University of Missouri School of Law, and was born and raised in Newton County.
August 4 primary result: William Lynch ran unopposed in the Republican primary, receiving 100 percent (8,563 votes); no Democrat or Libertarian filed. He is unopposed on the November 3 ballot based on available candidate filings, per the Newton County Clerk's official results.
Full race pageAuditorMatt Major (R)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Matt Major Republican
Matt Major is the incumbent Newton County Auditor, having served since 2023, per the county's official website. No campaign website was found as of September 6, 2026.
August 4 primary result: Matt Major ran unopposed in the Republican primary, receiving 100 percent (8,270 votes); no Democrat or Libertarian filed. He is unopposed on the November 3 ballot based on available candidate filings, per the Newton County Clerk's official results.
Full race pageBy address
These seats are elected by district; only the district covering your address is on your ballot.
Newton County is split across 2 Missouri House districts.
Find your districts by addressMissouri House: 2 districtsDistricts 159, 160
Missouri House District 159Joel Mace (R)
Unopposed: still on your ballot.
Joel Mace Republican
Joel Mace is a veteran detective with the Newton County Sheriff's Office with over a decade in law enforcement, per the Missouri Times. He previously served as a patrol officer in Diamond and Granby before joining the Newton County Sheriff's Office in 2013. He is the Republican nominee for Missouri House District 159. No campaign website was found as of September 6, 2026.
Joel Mace (Republican) is the only nominee 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.
Full race pageMissouri House District 160Cheryle Perkins (R) · Angela Thomas (D)
Cheryle Perkins Republican
- Ensuring a fair and just tax policy under the Hancock Amendment
- Reforming the State Tax Commission's process for hearing taxpayer appeals
- Expanding mental health treatment facilities across the state
Per the campaign site.
About Cheryle Perkins
Cheryle Perkins has spent 23 years in the Newton County Assessor's office, including 13 years as a deputy and 10 years as the elected Assessor, per her campaign website and the Joplin Globe. She is the Republican nominee for Missouri House District 160.
Angela Thomas Democratic
Angela Thomas is the Democratic nominee for Missouri House District 160 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Missouri Secretary of State's certified general election candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 6, 2026.
Cheryle Perkins (Republican), Angela Thomas (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.
Full race pageMissouri Senate District 32Jill Carter (R) · Imma J Curl (D)
Jill Carter Republican Incumbent
Jill Carter operates her family's farming enterprise, per her official Missouri Senate biography. She represents District 32, covering Jasper and Newton counties, and chairs the Senate Families, Seniors and Health Committee, per the same source. No campaign website was found as of September 6, 2026.
Imma J Curl Democratic
Imma Curl, of Joplin, entered the Missouri Senate District 32 race in March 2026, per the Missouri Independent. She has campaigned against 2026 ballot measures that would restrict the initiative petition process and eliminate the state income tax. No campaign website was found as of September 6, 2026.
Jill Carter (Republican), Imma J Curl (Democratic) meet on the November 3 ballot; Jill Carter is the sitting member per the Senate roster. 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.
Full race pageSee your full ballot
Voting info and more
Voting info and more
Verify your ballot with the official election office.
Cross-check every race and candidate with the official election office. Official sources are the final word.
Missouri nominees were set by the August 4 primary (plurality, no runoffs) and meet on the November 3 ballot; unopposed nominees still print. All 163 state House seats, the even-numbered state Senate districts, partisan circuit judgeships in non-plan circuits and the county offices on the four-year off-presidential cycle (presiding commissioner, clerk, circuit clerk, auditor, recorder, collector, prosecuting attorney) are up; sheriff, assessor, treasurer and the associate commissioners were elected in 2024, per the Secretary of State.
Who is on the ballot in Newton County, Missouri on November 3, 2026?
Newton County sample ballot 2026: who is running for presiding commissioner, with bios, priorities and campaign sites. Every candidate profile on this page names the official filing or campaign source it came from.
When is the 2026 general election in Missouri?
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Missouri are listed on the Missouri election hub. Missouri election hub →
How do I see my exact Newton County ballot?
Enter your ZIP code in the lookup for the statewide and congressional races on every ballot in the county, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location. Look up your ballot →
Missouri statewide racesEvery Missouri race on this county's ballot.All Missouri ballot measures7 statewide ballot measuresMissouri judges50 tracked judges on the retention ballotCandidate roster last updated Sep 27, 2026 from official election sources.