Missi Hesketh

Hesketh was born in Elmhurst, Illinois, in 1971, according to her Ballotpedia survey.[2] She moved to Forsyth, Missouri, with her family in 1983 and graduated from Forsyth High School in 1990.[2] She describes attending the University of Missouri for one semester before working in food service, clerical and finance jobs, and says a post-9/11 job change steered her toward education.[2]

Hesketh earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education from the University of Missouri-St. Louis in 2004, a graduate degree from Drury University in 2018 and an Ed.S. from Missouri State University in 2023.[2] Her survey also lists an A.A. in business administration and degrees in elementary, gifted and special education and assessment, and she has worked as an educator.[2]

Hesketh served the city of Forsyth as alderwoman and later as mayor, focusing on recreation and ecotourism, communications and transparency, and enforcement against nuisance and dangerous buildings.[2] She was the Democratic nominee for this seat in 2024, losing to Burlison 71.6% to 26.3%, and won the August 4, 2026 Democratic primary unopposed.[2] She describes herself as a single parent of three.[2] During the campaign, she emphasized ending division and restoring accountability and "decency and decorum" to Congress.[2] Hesketh received 35.4% of the vote to Eric Burlison's 62.2%, according to unofficial results reported by NBC News.[3]