If you’ve followed politics for any amount of time, you know the mantra: all politics is local. That couldn’t be more true, but when I talk to folks, I hear “Trump and Biden” a lot. Let me tell you why Jeff City is more important to Missourians than D.C.

Medicaid was expanded at the state level. Right to Work (for less) was beaten back at the state level. Medical and recreational marijuana were approved at the state level. When I knock doors for local candidates, myself included, I would talk about the horrible state of our roads in NWMO and how many of our schools have gone to four-day week schedules. I had several folks answer these facts with, “Well, Biden…”

Friends, Joe Biden has no idea where Atchison County is, but your local Rep does and he is the one defunding schools, causing a 4-day week, and letting MoDOT go without funds, causing the degradation of your roads.

Your local rep voted for an abortion ban that would force your niece to deliver a pregnancy born of rape or your wife to die because she’s septic with an unviable pregnancy. Your local rep let our rural hospitals close by refusing to accept federal dollars to expand Medicaid. Your local rep voted against union wages. Your local rep is playing footsie in Jeff City rather than passing meaningful legislation.

Our lives are most impacted by state politics. Pay attention, friends.

Jessica Piper, Hopkins, Missouri