Each summary is supported by the candidate's own words from a campaign source, direct candidate response, or official primary record retained with the profile.
Support Working Families
Candidate positionThe working class is falling behind, and MO-08—Missouri's poorest and most rural district—is feeling the pressure hardest. Families here can't afford more costs piled on top of farming challenges, healthcare accessibility or outdated infrastructure. As your representative, from Day 1 I'll fight to turn that around: Secure affordable healthcare access—so when emergencies strike, help is there, not hours away or out of reach due to closures and gaps in rural care —whether it’s Medicare-For-All or Medicaid support in the fight to keep rural facilities open.
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The working class is falling behind, and MO-08—Missouri's poorest and most rural district—is feeling the pressure hardest. Families here can't afford more costs piled on top of farming challenges, healthcare accessibility or outdated infrastructure. As your representative, from Day 1 I'll fight to turn that around: Secure affordable healthcare access—so when emergencies strike, help is there, not hours away or out of reach due to closures and gaps in rural care —whether it’s Medicare-For-All or Medicaid support in the fight to keep rural facilities open.
Candidate statement
Candidate positionProgressive yet pragmatic, Chris stands ready to fight for the people--from medical reform to veteran benefits, workers' rights to Constitutional rights, Chris has your six.
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Progressive yet pragmatic, Chris stands ready to fight for the people--from medical reform to veteran benefits, workers' rights to Constitutional rights, Chris has your six.
Support Working Families
Candidate positionDon't let labels like "progressive" divide us. Progressive issues are working-class issues: stronger unions, lower family costs, and politicians who put people first.
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Don't let labels like "progressive" divide us. Progressive issues are working-class issues: stronger unions, lower family costs, and politicians who put people first.
Defend our Constitutional, Civil and Labor Rights
Candidate positionRestore and reinforce checks and balances among our three co-equal branches of government. This is not a land for authoritarians or kings—power must answer to the people.
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Restore and reinforce checks and balances among our three co-equal branches of government. This is not a land for authoritarians or kings—power must answer to the people.
Stand Up For Our Veterans
Candidate position*As a product of forever wars, I support diplomacy first and foremost.
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*As a product of forever wars, I support diplomacy first and foremost.
Defend our Constitutional, Civil and Labor Rights
Candidate positionHold those in power accountable for trampling rights. No one is above the law—whether in Washington or local agencies.
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Hold those in power accountable for trampling rights. No one is above the law—whether in Washington or local agencies.
Candidate statement
Candidate positionAfter leaving the military, Chris stayed in the communications construction field. He first worked at a non-union, Right-to-Work shop in Houston, Texas, where he saw firsthand the harsh realities of shady employment practices and weak worker protections. That experience drove him home to Missouri. He settled in Arnold and proudly joined IBEW Local 1, where he continues working as a union electrician and communications technician today.
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After leaving the military, Chris stayed in the communications construction field. He first worked at a non-union, Right-to-Work shop in Houston, Texas, where he saw firsthand the harsh realities of shady employment practices and weak worker protections. That experience drove him home to Missouri. He settled in Arnold and proudly joined IBEW Local 1, where he continues working as a union electrician and communications technician today.
Defend our Constitutional, Civil and Labor Rights
Candidate positionPush to de-fund and abolish ICE. Immigration reform may be needed, but the brutal tactics performed by ICE are inexcusable. We deserve an enforcement system that respects rights and follows due process.
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Push to de-fund and abolish ICE. Immigration reform may be needed, but the brutal tactics performed by ICE are inexcusable. We deserve an enforcement system that respects rights and follows due process.
Candidate statement
Candidate positionChris has always stood up for what’s right. Whether on the battlefield, the job site, or in the streets, he has supported civil rights movements through peaceful protest — the very freedoms protected by the Constitution he defended in uniform.
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Chris has always stood up for what’s right. Whether on the battlefield, the job site, or in the streets, he has supported civil rights movements through peaceful protest — the very freedoms protected by the Constitution he defended in uniform.
Defend our Constitutional, Civil and Labor Rights
Candidate positionSupport women's rights to bodily autonomy. Decisions about women's rights to reproductive health and family belong to women, their doctors, and their families—not politicians in Washington. This includes access to safe abortion care.
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Support women's rights to bodily autonomy. Decisions about women's rights to reproductive health and family belong to women, their doctors, and their families—not politicians in Washington. This includes access to safe abortion care.
Defend our Constitutional, Civil and Labor Rights
Candidate positionEnd Citizens United. Our government is meant to be by the people, for the people. Getting dark money controlled by the millionaires and billionaires, foreign interests groups and corporations will put us back on that path!
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End Citizens United. Our government is meant to be by the people, for the people. Getting dark money controlled by the millionaires and billionaires, foreign interests groups and corporations will put us back on that path!
Candidate statement
Candidate positionChris is running for Congress in Missouri’s 8th District because he knows what it’s like to live paycheck to paycheck, to fight for fair wages and benefits, and to come home changed from war. He’s not a career politician — he’s a working-class veteran who still shows up every day with tools in hand and a promise to serve the people, not the powerful.
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Chris is running for Congress in Missouri’s 8th District because he knows what it’s like to live paycheck to paycheck, to fight for fair wages and benefits, and to come home changed from war. He’s not a career politician — he’s a working-class veteran who still shows up every day with tools in hand and a promise to serve the people, not the powerful.
Defend our Constitutional, Civil and Labor Rights
Candidate positionDocumented abuses of our freedoms are growing at a rapid pace. Read More
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Documented abuses of our freedoms are growing at a rapid pace. Read More
Candidate statement
Candidate positionChris Reichard is a different kind of candidate: a disabled OIF Army veteran, proud second generation IBEW Local 1 union member, and a seasoned fighter for our rights from Arnold, MO. He's ready to bring this experience to Washington for Missouri’s 8th District.
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Chris Reichard is a different kind of candidate: a disabled OIF Army veteran, proud second generation IBEW Local 1 union member, and a seasoned fighter for our rights from Arnold, MO. He's ready to bring this experience to Washington for Missouri’s 8th District.
Candidate statement
Candidate positionStanding with workers — pushing the PRO Act to protect the right to organize and strengthen unions that built the middle class.
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Standing with workers — pushing the PRO Act to protect the right to organize and strengthen unions that built the middle class.
Candidate statement
Candidate positionHonoring veterans — supporting the Major Richard Star Act so combat-injured veterans finally receive the full benefits they’ve earned.
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Honoring veterans — supporting the Major Richard Star Act so combat-injured veterans finally receive the full benefits they’ve earned.
Candidate statement
Candidate positionEnding endless wars — fighting to keep us out of another forever war and passing the Full Cost of War Act to make sure we account for the true human and financial cost upfront.
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Ending endless wars — fighting to keep us out of another forever war and passing the Full Cost of War Act to make sure we account for the true human and financial cost upfront.
Candidate statement
Candidate positionDefending our rights — backing the Equality Act, the REPAIR Act, and holding those in power accountable — regardless of party — when they trample on civil rights, workers’ rights, or the Constitution.
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Defending our rights — backing the Equality Act, the REPAIR Act, and holding those in power accountable — regardless of party — when they trample on civil rights, workers’ rights, or the Constitution.
Candidate statement
Candidate positionChris has never forgotten his oath to serve the people of the United States and defend the Constitution. He’s running a 100% grassroots campaign — no corporate PACs, no dark money, just working people like you.
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Chris has never forgotten his oath to serve the people of the United States and defend the Constitution. He’s running a 100% grassroots campaign — no corporate PACs, no dark money, just working people like you.
Candidate statement
Candidate positionThrough your help, Chris will bring moral courage, integrity, and an unrelenting will to Congress to fight for We the People — not the wealthy or foreign interests.
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Through your help, Chris will bring moral courage, integrity, and an unrelenting will to Congress to fight for We the People — not the wealthy or foreign interests.
National security, foreign policy, and veterans
Candidate positionThe Major Richard Star Act — Ensuring combat-injured veterans receive both their earned military retirement and VA disability benefits, without offsets that force impossible choices after great sacrifice.
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The Major Richard Star Act — Ensuring combat-injured veterans receive both their earned military retirement and VA disability benefits, without offsets that force impossible choices after great sacrifice.
National security, foreign policy, and veterans
Candidate positionThe Full Cost of War Act — Requiring Congress to authorize VA funding for veterans' care before any declaration of war or use of military force—because we must account for the human and financial toll upfront.
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The Full Cost of War Act — Requiring Congress to authorize VA funding for veterans' care before any declaration of war or use of military force—because we must account for the human and financial toll upfront.
National security, foreign policy, and veterans
Candidate positionRestoring cut VA positions — Reversing reductions in an already overworked, understaffed VA system so veterans get the timely, quality care they deserve—not longer wait times or backlogs.
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Restoring cut VA positions — Reversing reductions in an already overworked, understaffed VA system so veterans get the timely, quality care they deserve—not longer wait times or backlogs.
