Karen Spalding

Karen Spalding is the Republican candidate for the Missouri House of Representatives, District 19, in the November 3, 2026 general election, where she faces incumbent Democrat Wick Thomas.[1][2] A longtime music teacher, Spalding previously ran for the seat in 2022 and 2024 and says she is running on lower and capped property taxes, school choice and education.[1][3]

Karen Spalding graduated from Midway High School, attended Highland Community College, and earned a bachelor's degree from Washburn University in 1988.[1] In a Ballotpedia survey, Spalding said she graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Music Education degree and has worked as a classroom, band and vocal teacher in Northeast Kansas public and private schools and later taught elementary music in Kansas City.[3] She described herself as an educator for 37 years, a widowed mother of four and grandmother of eight.[3]

Spalding was the Republican candidate for Missouri House District 19 in 2022, losing to incumbent Ingrid Burnett, and again in 2024, losing to Wick Thomas.[1] In the survey, she said she is a member of the Jackson County Republican Committee and was chosen this year as president of the Missouri Association of Republicans.[3] Spalding advanced from the Republican primary on August 4, 2026.[1]

In the survey, Spalding said she would work to lower taxes and cap property taxes, restrict foreign investors to support small businesses and support school choice.[3] She also said she supports closed borders and a path to legal status for responsible undocumented immigrants, and that only citizens with valid government identification should be able to vote.[3]

Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21. Not yet independently fact-checked.