Rep. Judy Baker, D-Columbia, has the collective legislative experience, the message and thousands of campaign dollars in the bank to defend her seat in the General Assembly. The only thing she’s missing is an opponent.

Baker

"I was surprised," Baker said of her status as an unopposed incumbent. "I feel like I’ve earned a lot of respect in the legislature, and they didn’t feel I was a candidate that they wanted to come after, so to speak."

The state’s deadline to file for the November general election passed several months ago, and Republicans did not find an opponent to run against Baker, who represents the 25th District, which includes parts of east Columbia and Boone County.

And Mike Seitz, a spokesman for the secretary of state’s office, said the GOP won’t be able to field a candidate because it’s too late to get on the fall ballot.

"The only way they could get their name on the ballot at this point would be running as an independent," Seitz said. "Then, of course, Missouri also allows for a write-in option as well."

There are numerous races in the solidly Democratic St. Louis and Kansas City metro areas where Republicans declined to field a candidate, as well as a smattering of rural districts where Republicans are running unopposed.

The last time there were uncontested state legislative races in Columbia or Boone County was 2000, when three Democratic candidates faced no Republican challengers.

Missouri Republican Party spokesman Paul Sloca said although the Republican Party tries to find candidates for state legislative races, it doesn’t always work out.

"It’s a case-by-case, election-cycle-by-election-by-cycle basis," Sloca said.

The 25th District’s political tilt might have been a factor. In 2004, Baker won the seat by 32 percentage points against Republican Bob Northup.

"If you’re not going to go with your A game, if you’re not going to go with a top- quality candidate, there’s no sense in running them," Sloca said.

Although competition for Baker’s seat is nonexistent this year, cash flow into her campaign coffers is steady. An April filing with the Missouri Ethics Commission reports that Baker already had raised about $17,500 this election cycle.

"There’s still a campaign, there’s still a message of what I want to accomplish in the legislature," Baker said.

"Politics is a discourse of ideas and what is good for the state and citizens, I think that’s still an important campaign to run."

Baker said she plans to financially support candidates who share her message: "We still don’t have a health-care plan in Missouri for the low income, the poor and the disabled. … A lot of damage was done to the health-care system from the indiscriminate cuts that were made."

Baker’s campaign has made contributions of $600 to Rep. Wes Shoemyer, D-Clarence, who’s running for the state Senate; $325 to Northern Boone County Commissioner Skip Elkin, who’s running for 21st District state representative; and $400 to Duane Burghard, who is seeking to unseat U.S. Rep. Kenny Hulshof, R-Missouri.

"Campaigns are getting ideas out, campaigning on a message," Baker said. "Those who have similar messages will be campaigns that I will be interested in supporting as well."