As we close in on the August primary and look ahead to November’s elections, Maplewood-Brentwood Patch is devoted to bringing you the information you need about every race in town. Here's our start on the candidates and issues we'll be covering as November draws near. 

In addition to our own coverage, we will be inviting candidates in every race to upload information about their campaigns directly to this site. You will definitely want to bookmark this page for updates.

U.S. Senate

Claire McCaskill's bid for re-election will be closely watched by the entire nation in part because of her close ties to President Obama's 2008 campaign. 

The fiercely-fought GOP primary will likely see U.S. Rep. Todd Akin (R-Wildwood), former State Treasurer Sarah Steelman or Frontenac businessman John Brunner emerge as McCaskill's opponent.

The "Tea Party" movement will also be a factor in the campaign, with one activist's comments about killing "the Claire Bear" drawing added scrutiny and security for McCaskill. 

In the meantime, dueling Tea Party factions have given different endorsements in the Republican primary.

Congress

First Congressional District (Maplewood)

Redistricting brought on by the latest Census results has eliminated one of Missouri's congressional districts, forcing incumbents Willliam "Lacy" Clay and Russ Carnahan to square off in a primary for the 1st Congressional Distric, to see who will represent the city of St. Louis and areas south, along with portions of St. Louis County, which includes Maplewood.

Second Congressional District (Brentwood)

Missouri's new Second district is guaranteed to see someone new elected with Rep. Akin's decision to run for the Senate. Former Republican National Convention Co-Chair and U.S. Ambassador Ann Wagner has seen party stars like Chris Christie and Mike Huckabee come into the fold to support her, enough so that it helped push Ed Martin to change races. Former Webster Groves city councilman Dr. Randy Jotte has stayed in the primary.

Wagner would face one of a field of largely unknown Democrats, none of whom has attracted support from national party leaders.

• Ann Wagner Calls Jotte Campaign's Debate Challenge "Shameful"
• Letter to the Editor: Affordable and Accessible Healthcare: Why We Need a Physician in Congress
• Letter to the Editor: 19-Year-Old Endorses Jotte for Congress

The primary winner will be an overwhelming favorite against either Robyn Hamlin or Martin Baker in November.

Missouri Senate First District

In August, Sue Schoemehl will take on Scott Sifton for the Democratic nomination.

The winner will face incumbent Jim Lembke in November, who has no opposition for the primary. Lembke has represented the First District since 2009.

This race will be one of the most important in Missouri as redistricting put left-leaning areas such as Webster Groves and Maplewood in with South County. Republicans critized the new lines as it combined two senate districts into one.

Missouri State House, 83rd District

Richmond Heights council member and lawyer Gina Mitten is facing off with Maplewood green building contractor and activist Jim Trout in the newly drawn 83rd District. The winner in the Aug. 7 primary will likely win in November. 

Also in Patch:

• 83rd District Race: Gina Mitten Has Cash Advantage Over James Trout

Issues

In August voters will be asked to decide on a measure proposing "a constitutional amendment guaranteeing a citizen's right to pray and worship on public property and reaffirming a citizen's right to choose any or no religion," according to the state law calling for the vote. A Patch story on the issue generated nearly 100 comments earlier this year.

The fate of statewide ballot issues will not be decided until later this summer.

Voters in the St. Louis County Public Library system will be asked to vote on a measure which would call for a 6 cent tax increase to fund improvements at facilities system-wide.

Brentwood residents will vote on Proposition L, which calls for an increase of a nickel from the current Library District tax rate of 25 cents.

STATEWIDE BALLOT ISSUES

• Proposition A, which if passed, would put the City of St. Louis Police Department under local control.

• Constitutional Amendment 3, would reform the judicial selection process in Missouri at the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals level. Proponents of the amendment have abandoned their campaign for the measure, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported, citing bias in the ballot language approved by Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnhan.

• Proposition B, would increase tobacco taxes $0.0365 per cigarette and 25% of the manufacturer's invoice price for roll-your-own tobacco and 15% for other tobacco products, according to the ballot language. Estimated revenues of at least $283 million would fund public education in Missouri along with smoking prevention programs.

• Proposition E would prohibit the Governor or any state agency, from establishing or operating state-based health insurance exchanges unless authorized by a vote of the people or by the legislature.

The Candidates

As we mentioned above, candidates from every race impacting Maplewood and Brentwood voters have been invited to load their campaign's profile on Patch.

In some cases, campaigns did not respond and the information has been gathered by a Patch editor. It is not too late to upload your campaign's data here. Campaigns have 24 hours to check their submissions before they are published on Patch.

U.S. Senate

Democrat

• Claire McCaskill

Republican

• John Brunner
• Todd Akin
• Sarah Steelman
• Hector Maldonado
• Mark Lodes
• Mark Memoly
• Robert Poole
• Jerry Beck

Liberterian

• Jonathan Dine

U.S. Congress

District 1 (Maplewood is in District 1)

Democrat

• Russ Carnahan
• William Lacy Clay
• Candice Britton

Republican

• Robyn Hamlin
• Martin Baker

Libertarian

• Robb E. Cunningham

District 2 (Brentwood is in District 2)

Democrat

• Marshall Works
• George Weber
• Harold Whitfield
• Glenn Koenen

Republican

• Ann Wagner
• Randy Jotte
• John Morris
• James Baker

Libertarian

• Bill Slantz

Constitution

• Anatol Zorikova

Governor

Democrat 

• Jay Nixon
• Clay Thunderhawk
• William B. Campbell

Republican

• Dave Spence
• Bill Randles
• Fred Sauer
• John Weiler

Libertarian

• Jim Higgins

 Lieutenant Governor

Democrat

• Judy Baker
• Bill Haas
• Sara Lampe
• Susan Montee
• Dennis Weisenburger
• Fred Kratky
• Jackie Townes McGee
• Becky Lee Plattner

Republican

• Peter Kinder
• Brad Lager
• Mike Carter
• Charles Kullmann

Libertarian

• Matthew Copple

Constitution 

• Cynthia Davis

Secretary of State

Democrat

• Jason Kander
• MD Rabbi Alam

Republican

• Scott Rupp
• Shane Schoeller
• Bill Stouffer

Libertarian

• Cisse Spragins

Constitution

• Justin Harter

State Treasurer

Democrat

• Clint Zweifel

Republican

• Cole McNary

Libertarian

• Sean O'Toole

Attorney General

Democrat 

• Chris Koster

Republican

• Ed Martin
• Adam Warren

Libertarian

• Dave Browning

State Rep., District 83

Democrat

• Gina Mitten
• James Trout
  

Hadley Township Committeeman

Democrat

• Nelson Mitten
  

Republican

• Daniel F. O'Sullivan, Jr.

Hadley Township Committeewoman

Democrat

• Mondi L. Ghasedi

Republican

• Jackie Coleman
• Carol Riess