Burlison Wins Reelection to Missouri 7th District
Republican incumbent Eric Burlison secured another term in the U.S. House, with the Associated Press calling the race while 66% of votes were counted.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections
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Republican Eric Burlison won reelection to the U.S. House for Missouri's 7th Congressional District, receiving over 115,000 votes. He defeated Democratic challenger Missi Hesketh and Libertarian nominee Kevin Craig.
Why it matters
Burlison's victory keeps the seat in Republican hands for another term in a district covering much of Southwest Missouri. The result reflects continued support for the incumbent across the state's southwestern counties.
Burlison received over 115,000 votes when the AP called the race with 66% of ballots counted. Final totals for the remaining votes were not available at the time of the call.
The players
Eric Burlison
Burlison is a Republican congressman from Springfield who has represented Missouri's 7th Congressional District since 2022 and previously served in both chambers of the Missouri legislature.
Missi Hesketh
Hesketh was the Democratic nominee who challenged Burlison in the race for Missouri's 7th Congressional District.
The details
Burlison, a Springfield native, was first elected to the U.S. House in November 2022 to succeed Billy Long. He previously served in the Missouri House of Representatives beginning in 2008 and the Missouri Senate beginning in November 2018.
Timeline
2008: Burlison elected to the Missouri House of Representatives
November 2018: Burlison elected to the Missouri Senate
November 2022: Burlison first elected to the U.S. House
November 4, 2026: Burlison wins reelection to the U.S. House
Seasonal Patterns
Burlison's reelection extends the tenure he began in November 2022, when he won the seat previously held by Billy Long. The continuation of Republican control in this district follows the pattern of his initial 2022 victory.
Residents of Missouri's 7th District will be represented by Burlison for another two-year term in the U.S. House. Constituents across Southwest Missouri counties will continue to have the same congressman through the next session.
The takeaway
Burlison's path from state legislator to congressman shows how a long career in Missouri politics can translate into sustained federal representation. Voters in the district have consistently returned him to office since 2022.
Further reading
Explore more coverage in Missouri Elections for context on the state's races.
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