On Thursday, Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO) announced his intent to retire at the end of this, his eighth term in Congress. As RedState reported, the news came as a bit of a surprise and set off a mad scramble among Missouri Republicans to determine who would become his replacement. 

The Third District is perhaps the reddest of Missouri's red districts, so the key contest will be in the primary, and to the victor goes the promise of a lengthy career in Washington. So, the January announcement with an August primary looming will result in a flurry of activity among possible contenders.

READ MORE: Huge Shake Up in Missouri As Blaine Luetkemeyer Announces He Won't Seek Reelection in CD3

One Missouri state senator has already announced her bid for the seat. On Friday, Mary Elizabeth Coleman, who has represented Missouri Senate District 22 since January 2023 and was a state representative for four years prior to that, announced her candidacy. 

pic.twitter.com/7q6on9Xq2a

— MaryElizabethColeman (@meaccoleman) January 5, 2024

In a statement released Friday afternoon, Coleman said: 

“I love my state and my country and we need more unwavering conservatives willing to step up and fight against the Radical Left who are seeking to impose their socialist ideology on Missourians. I’m running for Congress because we need to secure the southern border and put a stop to the endless flow of illegal immigration; we need to protect and defend human life; we need to stand up for our daughters and the girls of our state by protecting women’s sports; and we need to get back to the economic prosperity we had under President Trump by reversing Bidenomics, which has inflated the price of everything for Missouri families.”

More from her website: 

Now more than ever we need proven conservatives who can walk the walk, not just talk the talk. We need principled leaders in state government who will push back against the radical left's culture and defend our religious freedom, the unborn, and the Second Amendment.

Because of my experience as an elected representative and my concern for our state’s future, I have decided to run for Congress. My husband, Chris, and I came to this decision because we believe it's important to our children's future that Missouri remains a great place to live, work, and raise a family.

Chuck Schumer, Nancy Pelosi, and Joe Biden are waging war on Missourians’ God given rights and our jobs.  I promise to always stand up for Missouri values and push back against liberal politicians in Washington D.C.

Together, we can win this election and I can continue working to bring some common sense to our Federal government.

It has been the honor of my life to serve in the state legislature, and I look forward to continuing to fight for my constituents in the swamp.

Coleman lists as her legislative priorities:

• STOP CANCEL CULTURE AND PROTECT GOD GIVEN RIGHTS
• HOLD THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ACCOUNTABLE
• SUPPORT POLICE AND STOP ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION

During her tenure in the Missouri House, Coleman chaired the House Children and Families Committee. A staunch pro-life advocate, Coleman was an architect of the Missouri Stands for the Unborn Act, which includes an eight-week abortion ban. 

Coleman has a B.S. in management from Saint Louis University and obtained her law degree from St. Mary's University School of Law. She and her husband Chris have six children.