State Sen. Rick Brattin announced his bid for Missouri’s open 4th congressional seat last month, joining a growing list of Republican contenders vying to replace Rep. Vicky Hartzler as she runs for U.S. Senate.
“I’m running for Congress in Missouri’s Fourth District, because I truly feel that we are in the Alamo stage between liberty and freedom or tyranny and socialism and communism takeover in America,” Brattin said. “I have a proven record of standing up and fighting back and I want to continue that fight in Washington.”
The 4th Congressional District currently encompasses 24 counties across Central and Western Missouri, but the district will likely look different once the redistricting process is finished in April of 2022.
Brattin was elected to the House in 2010 and served as the house majority floor whip, chaired the Special Committee on Government Oversight and was the senior member of both the Local Government and the Veterans committees during his tenure. He won the Freshman Legislator Award in each of his first two years in office and continued to serve the lower chamber until 2018.
After his time in the House, Brattin was elected Cass County Auditor and served until 2020 when he was elected to represent Senate District 31. In the Senate, Brattin serves on the General Laws, Local Government and Elections, and Seniors, Families, Veterans and Military Affairs Committees along with serving as vice-chairman of the Education Committee. He is also a member of the Senate Conservative Caucus.
“Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi are trying to adopt socialist policies that would lead to the decline of America,” Brattin said. “In less than a year, they have done so much that has weakened our country, and I truly fear that if they are not stopped, our children and grandchildren will not have the same freedom to pursue the American dream that we have enjoyed.”
Missouri’s 4th Congressional District has been represented by Hartzler since 2011. But with the congresswoman seeking higher office, the Republican field of contenders continues to thicken. Current candidates vying for the GOP nomination include veteran and former Boone County Clerk Taylor Burks, State Rep. Sara Walsh, fifth-generation farmer Kalena Bruce and former Fox 4 News Anchor Mark Alford.
After graduating from Lee’s Summit High School, Brattin served six years in the Marine Corps as a non-commissioned officer, eventually receiving the rank of sergeant. He currently owns and operates a small construction company and maintains a 40-acre farm in central Cass County. Brattin resides in Harrisonville with his wife and their five children and regularly attends Abundant Life Church in Lee’s Summit.
An NRA member, Brattin has received a 100% pro-life rating from the Missouri Right to Life PAC and is dedicated to the constitution, supports lower taxes and smaller government, opposes the woke agenda and stands up for parental rights, according to his campaign. Brattin also sponsored legislation last session to make it a class E felony to block public streets, highways or interstates in response to concerns about BLM protests and riots congesting traffic.
“I am running for Congress because I believe we need to elect conservatives who will stand up and put America First,” Brattin said. “We need to secure our border, hold China accountable for dishonest trade practices – including outright theft of American intellectual property – and for their cyber warfare against our nation, and stop liberals from using CRT and other ‘woke’ policies to brainwash our children into hating America.
“This is the greatest country in the world, and it is worth fighting like heck to save.”
