Rick
Brattin
Missouri state senator and 2026 Republican nominee for Missouri's 5th Congressional District, challenging incumbent Emanuel Cleaver
- sources
- 19
- positions
- 12
- endorsements
- 12
Background
Rick Brattin is a Republican politician from Missouri currently serving as state senator for District 31, a seat he first won in 2020 and was reelected to in 2024. He chairs the Missouri Senate Education Committee. 123
Before his Senate tenure, Brattin served four terms in the Missouri House of Representatives representing District 55 (2010–2018) and previously held the position of Cass County auditor. He grew up in Greenwood, Missouri and his campaign biography lists Harrisonville as his home. 134
Prior to entering politics, Brattin served six years in the U.S. Marine Corps, reaching the rank of sergeant. He subsequently founded a small construction business and, according to an earlier campaign biography, also operates a family farm. He is a graduate of Lee's Summit High School; his official biographies do not list a college degree. 134
In August 2026, Brattin won the Republican primary for Missouri's 5th Congressional District, becoming the GOP nominee to challenge incumbent Democratic U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver in the November 3 general election. He received the endorsement of former President Donald Trump ahead of the primary. 131210
At a glance
- Party
- Republican
- Running for
- U.S. House · District 5, Missouri
- Election
- Nov 3, 2026
- Current office
- Missouri State Senator, District 31
- Website
- rickbrattin.com(opens in a new tab)
Where they stand
Each position links to the page it was drawn from. Quotes are verbatim.
Timeline
- Oct 1newsCircuit judge dismisses lawsuit seeking a new GOP nominee in the 5th District
A circuit judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by two former Republican primary candidates seeking a new GOP nominee, ruling it was time-barred and that the requested relief could not be granted. Brattin remained the certified Republican nominee.
Lawsuit for new GOP nominee in 5th District dismissed · Oct 1, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 29newsBrattin tells KMBC the general election is 'an uphill battle' after map reversal
Brattin told KMBC that the map uncertainty had left his campaign 'paralyzed' and described the remaining campaign as 'an uphill battle,' as candidates shifted to campaigning in the smaller, Kansas City-centered 2022 district.
Cleaver, Brattin react after Missouri congressional map is settled · Sep 29, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 25newsSupreme Court rejects 2025 Missouri map; Brattin calls decision 'a travesty'
The U.S. Supreme Court rejected the effort to use the 2025 congressional map for the November election, leaving the 2022 district boundaries in place. Brattin, who had won his primary under the newer map, called the decision 'a travesty.'
Supreme Court rejects a Trump-backed Missouri congressional map ... · Sep 25, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 23newsBrattin says map uncertainty has 'paralyzed' his campaign
Brattin told Missourinet that uncertainty over which congressional map would apply had 'completely just paralyzed' his campaign and objected that switching maps 'changed the entire game in the middle of the game.'
Brattin Says Ongoing Missouri Map Dispute Has Paralyzed ... · Sep 23, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Aug 27endorsementBrattin campaign announces NFIB Federal PAC endorsement, targets Biden-era regulation
Brattin's campaign announced an endorsement from NFIB Federal PAC and linked inflation and small-business compliance costs to Biden-administration regulation and spending.
Rick Brattin — 2026 Missouri's 5th Congressional District ... · Oct 11, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Aug 25filingMissouri Secretary of State certifies Brattin, Cleaver, and Langkraehr as general-election candidates
Missouri's Secretary of State officially certified the general-election candidates: Republican Rick Brattin, Democratic incumbent Emanuel Cleaver, and Libertarian Randall Langkraehr.
Missouri's 5th Congressional District: What to know about ... - KCUR · Sep 23, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Aug 4newsBrattin wins Republican primary with ~45% of the vote
Brattin won the Republican primary for Missouri's 5th Congressional District with approximately 45% of the vote, ahead of Taylor Burks, making him the GOP nominee.
Lawsuit for new GOP nominee in 5th District dismissed · Oct 1, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Aug 3endorsementPresident Trump endorses Brattin as a 'MAGA Warrior' the day before the primary
President Donald Trump gave Brattin his 'Complete and Total Endorsement,' calling him a 'MAGA Warrior,' one day before the Republican primary.
Lawsuit for new GOP nominee in 5th District dismissed · Oct 1, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Jun 15endorsementGov. Mike Kehoe and Missouri Right to Life PACs endorse Rick Brattin
Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe and Missouri Right to Life PACs both endorsed Brattin on the same date, boosting his primary campaign.
Rick Brattin | Biografía y registro público · Sep 17, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Apr 2endorsementClub for Growth PAC endorses Rick Brattin for Missouri's 5th Congressional District
Club for Growth PAC endorsed Brattin in his bid for the Republican nomination in Missouri's 5th Congressional District.
Rick Brattin | Biografía y registro público · Sep 17, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Endorsements
- Missouri Treasurer Vivek Malek officialListed as an endorser in the 2026 Missouri congressional-election roundup. en.wikipedia.org
- U.S. Rep. Jason Smith (R-Mo.) officialListed among Brattin's endorsers in KOMU's August 4 election coverage. komu.com
- U.S. Rep. Bob Onder (R-Mo.) officialNamed in Trump's August 3 announcement and listed as an endorser in iVoterGuide's Brattin profile. ivoterguide.com
- U.S. Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) officialListed as an endorser in iVoterGuide. ivoterguide.com
- Missouri Club for Growth organizationListed in iVoterGuide's endorsements for Brattin. ivoterguide.com
- National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) organizationListed in iVoterGuide's endorsements for Brattin. ivoterguide.com
- Missouri First PAC organizationListed in iVoterGuide's endorsements for Brattin. ivoterguide.com
- U.S. Rep. Eric Burlison (R-Mo.) officialNamed in Trump's August 3 announcement as one of the Missouri "America First Patriots" supporting Brattin. x.com
- President Donald Trump officialTrump endorsed Brattin the day before the Republican primary, stating: "Rick Brattin has my Complete and Total Endorsement to be the next Representative from Missouri's 5th Congressional District." x.com · Aug 3, 2026
- Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe officialKehoe endorsed Brattin for the CD-5 bid; also listed in later election coverage. komu.com · Jun 15, 2026
- Missouri Right to Life State and Federal PACs organizationThe PACs' primary-election endorsement release named Brattin for District 5; a later release also listed him for the November 3 general election. missourilife.org · Jun 15, 2026
- Club for Growth PAC organizationClub for Growth announced its endorsement of Brattin. clubforgrowth.org · Apr 2, 2026
Campaign finance
Totals filed with the Federal Election Commission for the 2026 election cycle.
- Raised
- $332K
- Spent
- $109K
- Cash on hand
- $223K
As of Jul 15, 2026. Filings are periodic, so recent money may not be included yet. ↳ FEC record H2MO04199(opens in a new tab)
Sources 19
- [1] Rick Brattin — 2026 Missouri's 5th Congressional District ...(opens in a new tab) Oct 11, 2026
- [2] Rick Brattin(opens in a new tab) Oct 9, 2026
- [3] Issues(opens in a new tab) Oct 2, 2026
- [4] Rick Brattin — official campaign website(opens in a new tab) Oct 2, 2026
- [5] Lawsuit for new GOP nominee in 5th District dismissed(opens in a new tab) Oct 1, 2026
- [6] Cleaver, Brattin react after Missouri congressional map is settled(opens in a new tab) Sep 29, 2026
- [7] Supreme Court rejects a Trump-backed Missouri congressional map ...(opens in a new tab) Sep 25, 2026
- [8] Brattin Says Ongoing Missouri Map Dispute Has Paralyzed ...(opens in a new tab) Sep 23, 2026
- [9] Missouri's 5th Congressional District: What to know about ... - KCUR(opens in a new tab) Sep 23, 2026
- [10] Rick Brattin | Biografía y registro público(opens in a new tab) Sep 17, 2026
- [11] Rick Brattin - Club for Growth(opens in a new tab) Sep 15, 2026
- [12] Rick Brattin iVoterGuide Profile(opens in a new tab) Sep 9, 2026
- [13] Rick Brattin wins Republican primary U.S. House seat(opens in a new tab) Aug 4, 2026
- [14] Conservative Rick Brattin announced that he has received ...(opens in a new tab) Aug 3, 2026
- [15] Fifth Congressional District candidate interview: Rick Brattin(opens in a new tab) Jul 29, 2026
- [16] Press Release(opens in a new tab) Jul 24, 2026
- [17] Uncertain congressional map hangs over Missouri's crowded 5th District GOP primary • Missouri Independent(opens in a new tab) Jul 21, 2026
- [18] SB 248 - Bill Information - Missouri Senate(opens in a new tab) Apr 12, 2026
- [19] 2026 United States House of Representatives elections in ...(opens in a new tab) Feb 24, 2025