Trish Gunby defeats Ray Reed in Missouri’s 2nd Congressional District Democratic primary

Trish Gunby won the Democratic nomination on Tuesday to take on incumbent U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner in Missouri’s 2nd Congressional District. 

Gunby, a state lawmaker from Manchester, bested Reed, who conceded the race shortly after 10 p.m.

The Democratic nominee faces an uphill battle against Wagner, a five-term Republican incumbent who saw her district reworked earlier this year to make it more GOP-friendly.

Wagner fended off a fierce challenge from Democratic state Sen. Jill Schupp in 2020, winning by more than seven percentage points in the suburban St. Louis district. 

Gunby has laid out a progressive platform that includes strengthening voting, reproductive and workers’ rights. She told The Independent last month that she entered the race because she was tired of hearing from constituents how unresponsive Wagner’s office was to their concerns. 

“I have not seen her in the district in 10 years,” she said. “She notably has not had town halls or public forums, and I’ve had eight since I’ve been a state rep. in three years.”