Polls open in St. Joseph for mayoral primary election Tuesday
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- The polls for St. Joseph's Mayoral Primary Election are now open, a chance for voters to narrow down the field for a key government office for the next four years.
Polling places opened at 6 a.m. and will remain open until 7 p.m. Individuals arriving after a polling place had closed will not be allowed to vote. However, those individuals in line at 7 p.m. will be allowed to vote.
St. Joseph voters will see a four-man field on the ballot, including first-time candidates like Jonathan McClain and Larry Miller, as well as incumbent mayor John Josendale and former St. Joseph School District Board of Education member Kenneth Reeder.
A list of polling places can be found at www.co.buchanan.mo.us/february-3-2026-sample-ballot.
Josendale comes in with a campaign of continuing on four years of steady job growth and economic development, including large capital investments in public safety departments, Rosecrans Memorial Airport, Downtown and improved efforts to engage the community through communication and public safety.
Miller, a well-known local figure, hopes to improve communication between residents and local government if elected, including a focus on retaining residents through increased amenities and implementing an open-door policy.
McClain, a former Lafayette High School graduate and local entrepreneur, plans to prioritize economic development and improve the effectiveness of city services, pinpointing inefficiencies and eliminating factors that cause population decline. Communication and improved marketing of the city's amenities are two priorities of his.
Reeder, a former St. Joseph School District Board of Education member, is seeking public office once again with a focus on prioritizing support and community access for local residents, particularly by preserving tax dollars and reducing what he describes as unnecessary and wasteful spending.
Reeder believes the city needs to make it easier for residents, companies and others to do business to address it.
