93.9 The Eagle – The News and Talk of Columbia, MO
Missouri’s powerful Senate President will not be a candidate for office in 2024.
State Sen. Caleb Rowden (R-Columbia), the Senate President Pro Tem, made his announcement this morning on Twitter. He was first elected to the Missouri House in 2012 and served two terms, before being elected to the Missouri Senate in 2016. Senator Rowden is finishing his second, four-year term in that chamber.
In his post, he says politics and public life look and feel different than they did in 2012. “While there have always been deep political and philosophical disagreements about how to get to a desired outcome, the desired outcome and the faces used to make decisions used to be shared values. More and more, the latter no longer seems to be the case. Consensus-building was once a trait that was admired and rewarded. That no longer seems to be the case.”
The announcement means Senator Rowden will not be running for secretary of state this fall. He also emphasizes the importance of spending time with his wife and three children.
Senator Rowden is still the only candidate in Missouri history to defeat two state senators in his first election to the Missouri House in 2012: he beat former State Sen. Dennis Smith (R-Springfield) in the August GOP primary that year and beat former Senate Minority Leader Ken Jacob (D-Columbia) in the November general election that year.
Senator Rowden joined us live Friday on 939 the Eagle’s “Wake Up Mid-Missouri” and is proud of the omnibus education bill approved last week by the Senate. It would allow charter schools in Columbia Public Schools (CPS) and all Boone County school districts.
Just wonder what he will do now? Bet he is feeling better that he is getting out of that awful hot kitchen.