Councilmembers Andrew Trout, Jason Eslinger and Michael Grimm to seek reelection in 2026
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- Six of the eight sitting city councilmembers in St. Joseph have now signaled plans to seek reelection in 2026.
Councilmembers Andrew Trout (District 3), Jason Eslinger (District 2) and Michael Grimm (District 4) have formally requested petitions to run for reelection in 2026.
Trout and Grimm are both seeking a second term after voters elected them in 2022, while Eslinger is seeking his first full term after being appointed by the City Council in April 2024 following the resignation of former councilmember Taylor Crouse.
Petitions were also requested by Dana Stickley (District 3) and James W. Kindred (at-large), two newcomers to the race.
Stickley is currently a board member on the St. Joseph Human Rights Commission as well as an alternate member on the Zoning Board of Adjustment.
Petitions for district seats
- Councilmember Madison Davis, seeking third term (District 1)
- Councilmember Jason Eslinger, seeking first full term after appointment in April 2024 (District 2)
- Councilmember Andrew Trout, seeking second term (District 3)
- Dana Stickley, seeking first official term (District 3)
- Councilmember Michael G. Grimm, seeking second term (District 4)
Petitions for at-large seats
- James W Kindred, Sr., seeking first official term
- Collin Clibon, seeking first official term
- Councilmember Marty Novak, seeking third term
- Councilmember Randy S. Schultz, seeking second term
St. Joseph Mayor John Josendale also confirmed plans on Tuesday to run for a second term.
Tuesday marked the official start of next year's municipal election process with petitions becoming available for those interested in running for mayor, city council and judge. All petitions must be filed with the city clerk between Tuesday, Oct. 7 and Tuesday, Oct. 28.
A minimum of 250 qualified voters must sign petitions for at-large seats. Petitions for candidates for district councilmember seats must be signed by no less than 75 qualified voters of the district.
St. Joseph's Primary Election will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 3, followed by the General Election on Tuesday, April 7.
The 2026 municipal election will feature races for mayor and all eight City Council seats. Four at-large councilmembers will be elected to four-year terms while four district councilmembers will be elected to an initial two-year term, with a subsequent district election to occur in 2028.
