Deering Wins District 10 Seat in Missouri

Republican Mike Deering won the Missouri District 10 seat with 65% of the vote over Democrat John Wells.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Data Centers

Deering Wins District 10 Seat in Missouri

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Republican Mike Deering won the District 10 seat with 65% of the vote, defeating Democratic challenger John Wells. Deering had earlier beaten state Rep. Tricia Byrnes in the August primary with 57% of the vote.

Why it matters

The race centered on data center development, a contested local issue in northern Callaway County where several projects have been proposed. Byrnes accused Deering of supporting data centers, while Deering said he believes data center infrastructure should be heavily restricted.

Deering took 65% of the general election vote and 57% of the August primary vote. Projects proposed in northern Callaway County and developments by Amazon and Google in New Florence remain central to the district's data center debate.

The players

Mike Deering

Republican who won the District 10 seat and serves as executive vice president of the Missouri Cattlemen's Association, and who lives in Montgomery City.

John Wells

Democratic challenger in the District 10 race, born and raised in Columbia, who holds a masters degree in public administration from the University of Missouri.

Tricia Byrnes

Missouri state representative from Wentzville who lost the August primary to Deering after accusing him of supporting data centers.

The details

Byrnes, a state representative from Wentzville, posted a Facebook message last July calling Deering "Data Center Deering." Deering told The Missouri Independent that same July he believes data center infrastructure should be heavily restricted.

July (prior year): Byrnes posts Facebook attack calling Deering "Data Center Deering."
July (prior year): Deering tells The Missouri Independent he favors heavy restrictions on data centers.
August: Deering defeats Byrnes in the primary with 57% of the vote.
November 3, 2026: Deering wins the general election with 65% over Wells.

Roadmap

Data center siting disputes in northern Callaway County and the Amazon and Google projects in New Florence have turned infrastructure development into a campaign issue in Missouri. This primary and general election show that voters in these counties are weighing data center growth as a central political concern.

Missouri residents in the district's five counties may see data center proposals move forward or be restricted depending on how Deering pursues the policy he has described. Local decisions on infrastructure in Callaway and St. Charles counties could affect electricity demand and land use.

The takeaway

Voters in Missouri's District 10 have made data center policy a decisive issue, and readers following local infrastructure should watch how restrictions are developed in the coming legislative session.