Missouri State Senator Travis Fitzwater to Lead Missouri Technology Corporation

JEFFERSON CITY, MO – Missouri State Senator Travis Fitzwater (R-Wentzville) announced Monday he will not seek re-election and will instead become the Executive Director of the Missouri Technology Corporation (MTC). The announcement comes on the eve of the filing period for the August primary election.

Fitzwater’s Transition and MTC Role

Fitzwater, who won his State Senate seat in 2022, stated he is working on a timeline for the transition. The MTC is a public-private partnership established by the Missouri General Assembly to promote entrepreneurship and the growth of high-tech companies, particularly in the bioscience sector .

Potential Candidates Emerge

Mike Carter, a Wentzville municipal judge, general counsel for CarShield, and KDNL-TV personality, previously ran against Fitzwater in 2022 and intends to challenge him again in 2026 . Mike Deering, Executive Vice President of the Missouri Cattlemen’s Association, also plans to file for the seat .

Representative Chad Perkins, the House Speaker Pro Tem, has not yet decided whether to run or endorse a candidate. Representative Doyle Justus, a Troy Republican, did not immediately respond to inquiries. As of Monday, no Democrats had filed paperwork indicating significant fundraising efforts for a potential campaign .

State Senate Landscape

The Missouri State Senate consists of 34 members, with 24 Republicans and 10 Democrats . Seventeen seats are up for election in 2026. The current Senate President is David Wasinger (R), with Tony Luetkemeyer (R) serving as the Majority Leader and Doug Beck (D) as the Minority Leader . The session began on January 7, 2026, and is scheduled to finish on May 15, 2026 .

Filing Period and Budget Concerns

Candidates are expected to formally launch their campaigns at the Missouri Secretary of State’s office in Jefferson City. The filing period for the August primary closes on March 31. This news follows a recent $8 million budget cut to the Missouri Technology Corporation last year .