What Is the Republican Central Committee?

The county Republican Central Committee is made up of elected local Republican representatives. In Missouri rural counties, each township elects:

• 1 Republican Committeeman

• 1 Republican Committeewoman

Those elected members together form the county Republican Central Committee. These are real elected positions that appear on the ballot during the Republican primary election.

What Does a Committee Member Do?

Committee members typically:

• Attend county Republican meetings

• Vote on internal party matters

• Help organize local Republican activities

• Participate in selecting party leadership

• Help recruit/support candidates

• Fill certain party vacancies when needed

• Influence local Republican politics

Basic Eligibility Requirements

Under Missouri law, you generally must:

• Be a registered voter

• Live in the township you want to represent

• Have lived there for at least 1 year before the election

• Be eligible to vote

• File as a Republican candidate

Determine Your Township

You must run in the township where you live. In Clinton County, committee seats are township-based.

You can determine your township by:

• checking your voter registration information,

• asking the county clerk,

• reviewing township maps,

• or looking at prior election ballot information.

Decide Which Position You Are Filing For

The ballot contains:

• Republican Committeeman

• Republican Committeewoman

You file for the appropriate position.

Watch the Filing Period Carefully

These positions are NOT filed at random times. They are filed during Missouri candidate filing season before the August primary.

Typical timing:

• Filing opens: late February

• Filing closes: late March

• Election: August Republican primary

The exact dates change every cycle. Verify the dates with the Clinton County Clerks Office.

File for Office

You usually file in person with the county clerk.

Bring:

• photo ID

• voter information

• address information

The clerk will:

• provide forms,

• verify eligibility,

• and place your name on the ballot.

Confirm Your Filing

After filing:

• verify your name appears on candidate lists,

• verify your township is correct,

• and verify the office title is correct.

Missouri candidate filings are public records.

Campaign (If Necessary)

In many rural Missouri counties races are uncontested so sometimes candidates win automatically. If you have a challenger, you will of course want to campaign locally.

Vote in the Republican Primary

Republican primary voters will decide the winner. Missouri does NOT require party registration. Voters simply request a Republican ballot during the primary.

Become a Committee Member

How Do I Become a Central Committee Member In Clinton County?

Squawker: How To Strengthen Local Elections

Squawker: The Quiet Power Behind County Politics

This guide explains how a citizen becomes a member of the Republican Central Committee in Clinton County, Missouri