"MO-4" redirects here. For the Soviet subchaser, see MO-class small guard ship.

Missouri's 4th congressional district
Map
Map
Interactive map of district boundaries
Representative
Mark Alford
R–Lake Winnebago
Population (2024) 784,156
Median household
income		 $68,144[1]
Ethnicity
  • 83.3% White
  • 5.4% Two or more races
  • 4.8% Hispanic
  • 4.3% Black
  • 1.1% Asian
  • 1.0% other
Cook PVI R+21[2]

Missouri's 4th congressional district comprises west-central Missouri. It stretches from the northern half of Columbia to the southern and eastern suburbs of Kansas City, including a sliver of Kansas City in Cass County and parts of Blue Springs in Jackson County. It also includes the portion of Columbia north of Interstate 70, home to the University of Missouri (but not the university itself).

The district is predominantly rural and relatively conservative; Donald Trump defeated Kamala Harris 71% to 28% in the 2024 election and defeated Joe Biden 69% to 29% in the 2020 election.[3] The district is currently represented by Republican Mark Alford, a former reporter for WDAF-TV, the city's Fox affiliate.

This district had historically been a Democratic Party stronghold. Antipathy to the Republican Party had its origins in the American Civil War and the infamous General Order 11. The Union Army ordered evacuation of the county in an attempt to reduce support for and the power of bushwhacker guerrillas. After the Civil War, there was disfranchisement of white males (mostly Democrats) who had been active for the Confederacy until they took loyalty oaths, or until 1870. The area was filled with conflict between Missouri's Radicals, who joined the Republicans, and Conservatives, who were Democrats. By 1880 former secessionists dominated Missouri's congressional delegation and state legislature[citation needed].

Gradually this area developed a character similar to yellow dog Democrat districts in the South. Until 2010, only one Republican had been elected here since the Great Depression, and only for one term. However, several demographic trends have converged to erode the Democratic base in this district. First, as the New York Times election maps show, the predominantly rural counties lining the Missouri River have sharply trended Republican between the 2000 Senate election and the 2006 election, following trends across the South.[4]

Secondly, population losses in Kansas City resulted in the 4th gradually losing much of its share of heavily Democratic Jackson County to the Kansas City-based 5th district. Until 1983, the district stretched as far as Independence on Kansas City's eastern border; as late as 1973 it included the eastern portion of Kansas City itself. To compensate for the loss of territory closer to Kansas City, large portions of heavily Republican Southwest Missouri were reassigned from the neighboring 7th district.[5] The result of these trends resulted in a dramatic collapse of Democratic support in the district. Al Gore, John Kerry, and Barack Obama won less than 40% of the vote here. It ultimately presaged Ike Skelton's defeat by Vicky Hartzler in 2010. Since Skelton's defeat, no Democrat has managed even 40 percent of the vote.

Missouri's 4th congressional district includes all of 20 counties and portions of another 4 counties: Barton, Bates, Benton, Boone (parts), Camden (parts), Cass, Cedar, Dade, Dallas, Henry, Hickory, Howard, Jackson (parts), Johnson, Laclede, Lafayette, Morgan, Pettis, Polk, Pulaski, Saline, St. Clair, Vernon, and Webster (parts).[6]

Recent election results from statewide races

2023–2027 boundaries

Year Office Results[7]
2008 President McCain 58% - 40%
2012 President Romney 64% - 36%
2016 President Trump 68% - 27%
Senate Blunt 58% - 37%
Governor Greitens 60% - 37%
Lt. Governor Parson 63% - 31%
Secretary of State Ashcroft 68% - 27%
Attorney General Hawley 67% - 33%
2018 Senate Hawley 62% - 34%
Auditor McDowell 53% - 41%
2020 President Trump 69% - 29%
Governor Parson 69% - 29%
Lt. Governor Kehoe 70% - 27%
Secretary of State Ashcroft 72% - 25%
Treasurer Fitzpatrick 70% - 27%
Attorney General Schmitt 71% - 26%
2022 Senate Schmitt 66% - 31%
2024 President Trump 70% - 28%
Senate Hawley 67% - 31%
Governor Kehoe 70% - 28%
Lt. Governor Wasinger 68% - 27%
Secretary of State Hoskins 69% - 28%
Treasurer Malek 68% - 27%
Attorney General Bailey 71% - 26%

2027–2033 boundaries

Year Office Results[8]
2008 President McCain 53% - 45%
2012 President Romney 59% - 41%
2016 President Trump 59% - 36%
Senate Blunt 52% - 44%
Governor Greitens 53% - 43%
Lt. Governor Parson 57% - 38%
Secretary of State Ashcroft 62% - 34%
Attorney General Hawley 60% - 40%
2018 Senate Hawley 54% - 43%
Auditor Galloway 48% - 47%
2020 President Trump 59% - 40%
Governor Parson 59% - 39%
Lt. Governor Kehoe 60% - 37%
Secretary of State Ashcroft 62% - 35%
Treasurer Fitzpatrick 60% - 37%
Attorney General Schmitt 61% - 36%
2024 President Trump 60% - 39%
Senate Hawley 57% - 41%
Governor Kehoe 60% - 38%
Lt. Governor Wasinger 58% - 37%
Secretary of State Hoskins 59% - 38%
Treasurer Malek 59% - 37%
Attorney General Bailey 61% - 36%

Composition

For the 118th and successive Congresses (based on redistricting following the 2020 census), the district contains all or portions of the following counties, townships, and municipalities:[9]

Barton County (8)

All 8 communities

Bates County (11)

All 11 communities

Benton County (6)

All 6 communities

Boone County (5)

Centralia, Columbia (part; also 3rd), Hallsville, Harrisburg, Sturgeon

Camden County (9)

Camdenton, Climax Springs, Friedenswald, Linn Creek, Macks Creek, Montreal, Osage Beach (part; also 3rd), Stoutland (shared with Laclede County), Sunrise Beach (part; also 3rd)

Cass County (23)

All 23 communities

Cedar County (5)

All 5 communities

Dade County (6)

All 6 communities

Dallas County (4)

All 4 communities

Henry County (11)

All 11 communities

Hickory County (5)

All 5 communities

Howard County (5)

All 5 communities

Jackson County (9)

Blue Springs (part; also 5th), Grain Valley, Independence (part; also 5th and 6th), Lake Lotawana (part; also 5th), Lee's Summit (part; also 5th), Lone Jack, Oak Grove (shared with Lafayette County), Pleasant Hills (shared with Cass County), Tarsney Lakes

Johnson County (9)

All 9 communities

Laclede County (16)

All 16 communities

Lafayette County (17)

All 17 communities

Morgan County (7)

All 7 communities

Pettis County (8)

All 8 communities

Polk County (8)

All 8 communities

Pulaski County (6)

All 6 communities

St. Clair County (7)

All 7 communities

Saline County (12)

All 12 communities

Vernon County (11)

All 11 communities

Webster County (2)

Marshfield, Niangua

List of members representing the district

Member Party Years Cong
ress		 Electoral history District location
District created March 4, 1847

Willard P. Hall
(St. Joseph)		 Democratic March 4, 1847 –
March 3, 1853		 30th
31st
32nd		 Elected in 1846.
Re-elected in 1848.
Re-elected in 1850.
Retired.[10]

Mordecai Oliver
(Richmond)		 Whig March 4, 1853 –
March 3, 1855		 33rd
34th		 Elected in 1852.
Re-elected in 1854.
Retired.
Opposition March 4, 1855 –
March 3, 1857

James Craig
(St. Joseph)		 Democratic March 4, 1857 –
March 3, 1861		 35th
36th		 Elected in 1856.
Re-elected in 1858.
Retired.

Elijah H. Norton
(Platte City)		 Democratic March 4, 1861 –
March 3, 1863		 37th Elected in 1860.
Lost re-election.

Sempronius H. Boyd
(Springfield)		 Unconditional Unionist March 4, 1863 –
March 3, 1865		 38th Elected in 1862.
Retired.

John R. Kelso
(Springfield)		 Independent Republican March 4, 1865 –
March 3, 1867		 39th Elected in 1864.
Retired.

Joseph J. Gravely
(Stockton)		 Republican March 4, 1867 –
March 3, 1869		 40th Elected in 1866.
Retired.

Sempronius H. Boyd
(Springfield)		 Republican March 4, 1869 –
March 3, 1871		 41st Elected in 1868.
Retired.

Harrison E. Havens
(Springfield)		 Republican March 4, 1871 –
March 3, 1873		 42nd Elected in 1870.
Redistricted to the 6th district.

Robert A. Hatcher
(Charleston)		 Democratic March 4, 1873 –
March 3, 1879		 43rd
44th
45th		 Elected in 1872.
Re-elected in 1874.
Re-elected in 1876.
Retired.

Lowndes H. Davis
(Jackson)		 Democratic March 4, 1879 –
March 3, 1883		 46th
47th		 Elected in 1878.
Re-elected in 1880.
Redistricted to the 14th district.

James N. Burnes
(St. Joseph)		 Democratic March 4, 1883 –
January 23, 1889		 48th
49th
50th		 Elected in 1882.
Re-elected in 1884.
Re-elected in 1886.
Re-elected in 1888 but died before term started.
Vacant January 23, 1889 –
February 19, 1889		 50th

Charles F. Booher
(St. Joseph)		 Democratic February 19, 1889 –
March 3, 1889		 Elected to finish Burnes's term in the 50th Congress.
Retired.
Vacant March 4, 1889 –
December 2, 1889		 51st

Robert P. C. Wilson
(Platte City)		 Democratic December 2, 1889 –
March 3, 1893		 51st
52nd		 Elected to finish Burnes's term in the 51st Congress.
Re-elected in 1890.
Retired.

Daniel D. Burnes
(St. Joseph)		 Democratic March 4, 1893 –
March 3, 1895		 53rd Elected in 1892.
Retired.

George C. Crowther
(St. Joseph)		 Republican March 4, 1895 –
March 3, 1897		 54th Elected in 1894.
Lost re-election.

Charles F. Cochran
(St. Joseph)		 Democratic March 4, 1897 –
March 3, 1905		 55th
56th
57th
58th		 Elected in 1896.
Re-elected in 1898.
Re-elected in 1900.
Re-elected in 1902.
Withdrew from renomination.

Frank B. Fulkerson
(St. Joseph)		 Republican March 4, 1905 –
March 3, 1907		 59th Elected in 1904.
Lost re-election.

Charles F. Booher
(Savannah)		 Democratic March 4, 1907 –
January 21, 1921		 60th
61st
62nd
63rd
64th
65th
66th		 Elected in 1906.
Re-elected in 1908.
Re-elected in 1910.
Re-elected in 1912.
Re-elected in 1914.
Re-elected in 1916.
Re-elected in 1918.
Retired but died before term ended.
Vacant January 21, 1921 –
March 3, 1921		 66th

Charles L. Faust
(St. Joseph)		 Republican March 4, 1921 –
December 17, 1928		 67th
68th
69th
70th		 Elected in 1920.
Re-elected in 1922.
Re-elected in 1924.
Re-elected in 1926.
Re-elected in 1928 but died before term began.
Vacant December 17, 1928 –
February 5, 1929		 70th

David W. Hopkins
(St. Joseph)		 Republican February 5, 1929 –
March 3, 1933		 70th
71st
72nd		 Elected to finish Faust's term in the 70th Congress.
Also elected to start Faust's term in the 71st Congress.
Re-elected in 1930.
Redistricted to at-large and lost re-election.
District inactive March 4, 1933 –
January 3, 1935		 73rd All representatives elected at-large on a general ticket.

C. Jasper Bell
(Blue Springs)		 Democratic January 3, 1935 –
January 3, 1949		 74th
75th
76th
77th
78th
79th
80th		 Elected in 1934.
Re-elected in 1936.
Re-elected in 1938.
Re-elected in 1940.
Re-elected in 1942.
Re-elected in 1944.
Re-elected in 1946.
Retired.

Leonard Irving
(Independence)		 Democratic January 3, 1949 –
January 3, 1953		 81st
82nd		 Elected in 1948.
Re-elected in 1950.
Lost re-election.

Jeffrey P. Hillelson
(Independence)		 Republican January 3, 1953 –
January 3, 1955		 83rd Elected in 1952.
Lost re-election.		 1953–1963
[data missing]

George H. Christopher
(Butler)		 Democratic January 3, 1955 –
January 23, 1959		 84th
85th
86th		 Elected in 1954.
Re-elected in 1956.
Re-elected in 1958.
Died.
Vacant January 23, 1959 –
March 3, 1959		 86th

William J. Randall
(Independence)		 Democratic March 3, 1959 –
January 3, 1977		 86th
87th
88th
89th
90th
91st
92nd
93rd
94th		 Elected to finish Christopher's term.
Re-elected in 1960.
Re-elected in 1962.
Re-elected in 1964.
Re-elected in 1966.
Re-elected in 1968.
Re-elected in 1970.
Re-elected in 1972.
Re-elected in 1974.
Retired.
1963–1973
[data missing]
1973–1983
[data missing]

Ike Skelton
(Lexington)		 Democratic January 3, 1977 –
January 3, 2011		 95th
96th
97th
98th
99th
100th
101st
102nd
103rd
104th
105th
106th
107th
108th
109th
110th
111th		 Elected in 1976.
Re-elected in 1978.
Re-elected in 1980.
Re-elected in 1982.
Re-elected in 1984.
Re-elected in 1986.
Re-elected in 1988.
Re-elected in 1990.
Re-elected in 1992.
Re-elected in 1994.
Re-elected in 1996.
Re-elected in 1998.
Re-elected in 2000.
Re-elected in 2002.
Re-elected in 2004.
Re-elected in 2006.
Re-elected in 2008.
Lost re-election.
1983–1993
[data missing]
1993–2003
[data missing]
2003–2013

Vicky Hartzler
(Harrisonville)		 Republican January 3, 2011 –
January 3, 2023		 112th
113th
114th
115th
116th
117th		 Elected in 2010.
Re-elected in 2012.
Re-elected in 2014.
Re-elected in 2016.
Re-elected in 2018.
Re-elected in 2020.
Retired to run for U.S. senator.
2013–2023

Mark Alford
(Lake Winnebago)		 Republican January 3, 2023 –
present		 118th
119th		 Elected in 2022.
Re-elected in 2024.		 2023–present

Election results

2010

Missouri's 4th district general election, November 2, 2010
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Vicky Hartzler 113,489 50.43%
Democratic Ike Skelton (incumbent) 101,532 45.11%
Libertarian Jason Michael Braun 6,123 2.72%
Constitution Greg Cowan 3,912 1.74%
Total votes 225,056 100.00%

2012

Missouri 4th Congressional District 2012
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Vicky Hartzler (incumbent) 192,237 60.3%
Democratic Teresa Hensley 113,120 35.5%
Libertarian Bill Slantz 10,407 3.3%
Constitution Greg Cowan 2,959 0.5%
Total votes 318,723 100.0%

2014

Missouri's 4th Congressional District, 2014
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Vicky Hartzler (incumbent) 120,014 68.08%
Democratic Nate Irvin 46,464 26.36%
Libertarian Herschel L. Young 9,793 5.56%
Write-In Gregory A Cowan 15 0.01%
Total votes 176,286 100%
Republican hold

2016

Missouri's 4th congressional district election, 2016
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Vicky Hartzler (incumbent) 225,348 67.83%
Democratic Gordon Christensen 92,510 27.85%
Libertarian Mark Bliss 14,376 4.33%
Total votes 332,234 100%
Republican hold

2018

Missouri's 4th congressional district election, 2018
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Vicky Hartzler (incumbent) 190,138 64.8%
Democratic Renee Hoagenson 95,968 32.7%
Libertarian Mark Bliss 7,210 2.5%
Total votes 293,316 100%
Republican hold

2020

Missouri's 4th congressional district, 2020[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Vicky Hartzler (incumbent) 245,247 67.6
Democratic Lindsey Simmons 107,635 29.7
Libertarian Steven K. Koonse 9,954 2.7
Total votes 362,836 100.0
Republican hold


2024

2024 Missouri's 4th congressional district election
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mark Alford 259,886 71.1
Democratic Jeanette Cass 96,568 26.4
Libertarian Thomas Holbrook 9,240 2.5
Write-in 2 0.0
Total votes 365,696 100.0
Republican hold

Prior results

2008 Presidential Election Results

The table below shows how individual counties in MO-04 voted in the 2008 presidential election. U.S. Senator John McCain (R-Arizona) won every single county in MO-04 and swept the district with 60.58 percent of the vote while U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-Illinois) received 37.87 percent, a 22.71-percent margin of victory for the GOP.

County John McCain Barack Obama Difference
Barton 74.21 24.46 R + 49.75
Dade 69.65 28.79 R + 40.86
Moniteau 67.02 31.27 R + 35.75
Laclede 66.62 31.97 R + 34.65
Cedar 66.01 32.42 R + 33.59
Polk 65.39 33.24 R + 32.15
Dallas 63.71 34.57 R + 29.14
Webster 63.77 34.76 R + 29.01
Pulaski 63.68 34.99 R + 28.69
Camden 63.59 35.12 R + 28.47
Cole 62.94 36.03 R + 26.91
Pettis 60.51 38.07 R + 22.44
Benton 60.20 37.93 R + 22.27
Vernon 60.08 38.08 R + 22.00
St. Clair 59.76 37.81 R + 21.95
Morgan 59.58 38.97 R + 20.61
Cass 59.18 39.55 R + 19.63
Bates 58.35 39.49 R + 18.86
Lafayette 56.88 41.58 R + 15.30
Hickory 55.72 42.44 R + 13.28
Johnson 55.18 42.93 R + 12.25
Henry 54.62 43.63 R + 10.99
Ray 50.60 47.42 R + 3.18
Saline 50.39 47.85 R + 2.54

2008 Missouri Democratic Presidential Primary Election Results

The table below shows how individual counties in MO-04 voted in the 2008 Missouri Democratic Presidential Primary. Former U.S. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-New York) swept the district by a convincing margin over U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-Illinois). Clinton won every county in the district with the exception of Cole County, home of the State Capitol.

County Hillary Clinton Barack Obama Difference
Benton 68.77 26.95 C + 41.82
St. Clair 67.52 26.12 C + 41.40
Hickory 67.95 27.86 C + 40.09
Ray 65.29 30.31 C + 34.98
Bates 63.51 30.08 C + 33.43
Dallas 63.75 32.01 C + 31.74
Henry 63.18 32.10 C + 31.08
Barton 63.43 32.85 C + 30.58
Polk 63.81 33.28 C + 30.53
Vernon 61.55 31.42 C + 30.13
Dade 62.22 33.12 C + 29.10
Laclede 62.48 33.77 C + 28.71
Morgan 62.05 33.58 C + 28.47
Cedar 60.30 33.00 C + 27.30
Webster 61.20 34.46 C + 26.74
Lafayette 60.75 35.40 C + 25.35
Moniteau 60.38 36.38 C + 24.00
Cass 59.76 36.73 C + 23.03
Saline 57.46 37.85 C + 19.61
Camden 57.99 38.75 C + 19.24
Pulaski 56.07 39.35 C + 16.72
Pettis 54.76 41.38 C + 13.38
Johnson 53.22 43.07 C + 10.15
Cole 45.07 51.16 O + 6.09

See also

  • Missouri's congressional districts
  • List of United States congressional districts

References

  1. ^ "My Congressional District".
  2. ^ "2025 Cook PVI℠: District Map and List (119th Congress)". Cook Political Report. April 3, 2025. Retrieved April 5, 2025.
  3. ^ "The Downballot's calculations of presidential election results by congressional district, sponsored by Grassroots Analytics". The Downballot.
  4. ^ "Senate Races". The New York Times.
  5. ^ "Public Interest Guide to Redistricting".
  6. ^ "Missouri's 4th Congressional District". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
  7. ^ "Dra 2020".
  8. ^ https://davesredistricting.org/maps#viewmap::84069d4a-8b18-470e-97e3-897ddb4b2428
  9. ^ https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/cong_dist/cd118/cd_based/ST27/CD118_MO04.pdf
  10. ^ "Willard Preble Hall, 1864-1865". Missouri Digital Heritage. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
  11. ^ "All Results State of Missouri - State of Missouri - General Election, November 03, 2020". Missouri Secretary of State. Retrieved December 9, 2020.

38°16′57″N 93°19′08″W / 38.28250°N 93.31889°W / 38.28250; -93.31889